13th August, 2010
Two suspected fraudsters, popularly called money doublers, Tunde Adeyemo, 27 and Greg Afolabi, 45, of no fix address, are now guests at the Ikoyi prison, Lagos, Nigeria, following the order of an Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court that they should be remanded in prison.
They were alleged to have obtained N25 million from a complainant, Mr. Andrew Osagie, under false pretence between 2008 and July 2010, using two locations at Cement and Maryland areas of the state to carry out the fraud.
The complainant was said to have reported them to the police who arrested them and charged them to court on a three-count charge of felony, fraud and stealing.
The police accused them and others who are now at large of collecting a total sum of N25 million and $285,000 fraudulently from the complainant.
The offences are punishable under sections 516, 390 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2003.
The second count of the charge reads: ‘‘That you, Tunde Adeyemo, Greg Afolabi and others now at large sometime between 2008 and July 2010, at Cement and Maryland areas of Ikeja, Lagos in the magisterial district obtained the sum of N25 million and USD 285,000, from Andrew Osagie by falsely pretending that you are in a position to double the money for him, a representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap.17, Vol. 2, Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2003.’’
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum by the magistrate of the court, Mr. P.A. Ojo.
The magistrate also ordered that the addresses of the sureties must be verified and they must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State government.
The case has been adjourned till 4 October, 2010, for trial.
—Paul Sanusi