9th February, 2017
Defence counsel in a case of N10.5 million fraud, Mr Hope Okuokpai, on Thursday told an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos that the accused had refunded the sum.
The accused, Rukeme Nosereme, 40, a Senior Lecturer, who was first arraigned on April 12, 2016, is standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on stealing and fraud.
At the resumed hearing, Okuokpai told the court that Nosereme had complied with the terms of the settlement reached by the parties.
He said that Nosereme refunded the total sum to the complainant, Mr George Osaji, in installment.
The lawyer said that part of the money was paid into the Zone 2, Police Command’s bank account for transfer to the complainant.
“This payment was made to the police during an investigation for proper accountability,” Okuokpai said.
However, the prosecutor, Insp. Steven Molo submitted that N700,000 was still outstanding.
The magistrate, Mrs Abimbola Komolafe, consequently, ordered the prosecutor to apply to the police for the transfer of the outstanding sum to the complainant’s account.
Komolafe advised the parties to ensure that the terms of the settlement were fully complied with.
She adjourned the case till March 21 for the report of settlement.
The prosecutor had said that the accused committed the fraud and stealing on Jan. 20, 2014 at noon at Ijeshatedo area of Lagos.
He said that the accused fraudulently obtained N10.5 million from Osaji under the guise of selling to him, a house located at No. 26, Obalodu St., Ijeshatedo.
The prosecutor said that the accused inherited the property which he pretended to sell to the complainant from his late father, Pa John Nosereme.
Molo said that the money for the purchase of the property was paid to the accused through interbank money transfer.
“Osaji paid the money through his First bank account into the accused’s First bank account,” he said.
He said that the accused fraudulently concealed the said money, thereby stealing it.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 and 324(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011.