A 35-year-old mechanic, Yemi Igbasan, Monday appeared before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo state over alleged N250, 000 fraud.
The defendant, of no fixed address, was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on advance fee fraud and conversion of other people’s property to personal use.
The Police prosecutor, Insp. Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendant, on March 13, around 03:00 p.m, at Okitipupa New Garage in Okitipupa magisterial district, obtained N250,000 from one Benson Uwajero on the pretext of helping him to buy a second hand Toyota Camry car engine from Lagos.
He said the defendant failed to buy the engine as promised, and began avoiding the complainant until he was apprehended by the police.
Orogbemi said the offences contravened sections 419 and 383, criminal code, cap.37, vol.1, laws of Ondo state 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him
The Chief Magistrate, Musa Al-Yunus, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 and a surety in like sum.
He said the surety must have a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and show evidence of tax clearance for one year.
Al-Yunus adjourned the case till May 6 for further hearing.
