MICHAEL AKINOLA
A senior Police officer, CSP Akindehin Seyi Peters, is said to be counting his losses after he was swindled to the tune of over N7.2m by two suspected fraudsters, Osaro Igbinosa, 45 and Abiodun Johnson, now at large under false pretence in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects, Igbinosa and Johnson, had on 30th November, 2024, informed CSP Peters that they had one Toyota Camry saloon car 2008 model, which they wanted to sell at the amount in question and he paid.
However, after he had paid for the vehicle, the suspects bolted away with the money and did not supply the car as they promised. What the suspects did was to disconnected every communication they had with him and went into hiding.
The matter was reported to the Commissioner of Police Special Squad at the State Command at Ikeja. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspects and detained them at the Command for interrogation.
While the suspects were in custody at the Command, a 66-year old man, Olowokere Micheal, went to the Police to secure bail for one of the suspects, Johnson and promised to bring him any time the Police requested and he was granted bail.
However, when Johnson was granted bail, he realized that the Police had enough evidence to prosecute and jail him and he had no money to refund the complainant. So he bolted away and went into hiding.
Trouble started after the Police asked Mr. Michael to produce the second suspect he stood as guarantor for. He told the Police that he had ran away and he was unable to locate him.
The Police arrested Mr. Michael and the second suspect, Osaro Igbinosa and charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, Osaro Igbinosa and others now at large on the 30th day of November, 2024, within the Lagos Majisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit; obtaining money by false pretense and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
GOUNT II:”That you, Osaro Igbinosa ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place In the aforementioned magisterial district, did obtain money from CSP Akindehin Seyi Peters ‘m’ to the tune of seven million two hundred and fifty thousand Naira only (N7,250,000) under the pretense to sell out a Toyota Camry saloon car 2008 model and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 314(1) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Osaro Igbinosa ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did convert a total sum of seven million two adred and fifty thousand Naira only (N7,250,000) property of one CSP Akindehin Seyi Peters and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 287 of the inal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT IV:”That you Olowokere Micheal ‘m’ on the 4th day of December, 2024 at about 1420hrs, aforementioned magisterial district, did apply to take on bail one Abiodun Johnson ‘m’ involved in a case of conspiracy and obtaining the sum of seven million two hundred and thousand Naira by false pretense for purchasing a 2008 model Toyota Camry salon car and undertook to produce the said Abiodun Johnson ‘m’ of No. 43 Sikiru Omolaja Street 1 bus stop AIT Lagos State on the 31st day of December, 2024 or as may be required by the Police until the case against him is finally disposed off or forfeit the sum of one million Naira to the Government in accordance with Section 132 of Administration of Criminal justice of Lagos State 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
