Clearing agent sent to prison over N10.4m fraud

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Paul Iyoghojie
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Godfrey Ake who claimed to be a clearing agent at Apapa, Lagos, western Nigeria, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court for allegedly obtaining the sum of N10,420,000 from Fidelis Oshiegbu under false pretence.

The 34-year old accused was arrested by operatives of the Zone 2 Command, Onikan and charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a two-count charge of felony to wit, stealing.

Police prosecutor, Supol Eshiet Eshiet informed the court in charge No B/09/2016 that the accused committed the offence between January and May 2013 at Apapa, Lagos.

Eshiet told the court that the accused introduced himself to the complainant that he was a clearing agent and he tricked Oshiegbu and collected the sum of N10,420,000 from him with the pretence to help him clear nine containers from Apapa port, Lagos.

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Eshiet further told the court that after the complainant handed the money over to the accused on trust to clear the goods, the accused escaped with the money to Umuahia, Abia State, Southeast Nigeria, and converted the money to his personal use.

He said nemesis caught up with the accused when in 2016 he came back to Lagos thinking that the police and the complainant had forgotten about the matter and he was arrested.

Eshiet said the offences the accused committed are punishable under sections 312(1)(2) and 278 of the criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused denied the police allegations in the open court when the charges were read to him, and the presiding Chief Magistrate, Miss A. O. Awogboro admitted him to bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum, one of whom must be a blood relation.

Awogboro adjourned the case till 2 March, 2016 for mention, while the defendant was taken to Ikoyi prison pending when he will fulfil his bail conditions.

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