24th October, 2012
Three suspected land speculators, Olumuyiwa Makewu, 42, Omogbalahare Raheem, 45, and Paul Nwosu Onyemechi, 39, have been arrested by the police at Zone 2 Command, Lagos Island, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, for allegedly obtaining N16.2 million from three victims under false pretence.
They were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on an eight-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
The police alleged in the charge sheet that the accused persons were arrested following a written complaints by Mr./Mrs. Folake Omotoye and Mr. Ademola Adegboyega that the accused persons, on 24 February, 2010, in Lagos, obtained N8 million and N8.2 million respectively from them on the pretence that they had a plot of land at Aladura, Anthony Village, Lagos, to sell to them, a claim they knew was false. They were alleged to have failed to provide the land and also refused to refund the money.
They further stated that the accused persons backed up their illegal claims with forged certificate of occupancy number 88788/1996N dated 27 December, 1995 deed of partitioning 2010 and survey plan number MAF/445A/88/L measuring areas 1339 – 547 square metres dated 28 December, 1988 which they later discovered to be fake.
The offence the accused persons committed, the prosecutor, Inspector Marcus Okon stated, contravenes sections 409, 312, 285, 303(2)(a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges and the presiding magistrate, Mr. A. F. O. Abegunde Davies granted the first accused bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties who must be directors in a reputable business, while the other two were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties who must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government. She adjourned the matter.
All the defendants were remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending when they meet their bail conditions.
—Paul Iyoghojie