Before the Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, a 47-year-old man named Tokunbo Daramola was brought before the authorities by the Nigeria Police on suspicion of committing a N27.5m fraud.
Daramola faced a charge of obtaining by false pretence put forward against him by the police.
During the court session, the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ben Ekundayo, disclosed that the defendant allegedly perpetrated the crime in July 2023.
According to Ekundayo, the incident took place around 10 am at Ladipo Kuku Street, off Allen Avenue, Lagos.
The prosecutor added that Daramola purportedly defrauded and caused a financial loss to Prohaul Energy & Logistics Limited by presenting an old postdated Polaris Bank cheque, which the Central Bank of Nigeria had phased out as a security measure, to obtain N27.5m.
As per the prosecutor, the offence committed falls under Section 322(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, entered a plea of not guilty to the charge against him.
Upon his plea, the prosecutor requested the court to detain him in the Nigerian Correctional Service facility until the case was resolved.
In response, the defendant’s lawyer urged the court to grant bail under favorable conditions, arguing that the charge was bailable.
After hearing from both sides, Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji granted the defendant bail set at N3m, along with two sureties of equal amount.
The magistrate specified that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide evidence of paying taxes to the Lagos State government for three years.
Additionally, the sureties must be employed.
Magistrate Adetunji ordered the defendant to remain in the correctional center until meeting the bail conditions.
The case was adjourned until May 8, 2024.