Lagos estate agent arraigned for allegedly defrauding client N13m

The Nigeria Police on Wednesday arraigned a 64-year-old estate agent, Sunday Asibe, before the Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate Court, in Lagos State, for allegedly defrauding a man of N13m under pretence.

Asibe, who also goes by the alias John Asibe, is facing three counts of fraud, obtaining by pretence, and stealing, brought against him by the police.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between February and May 2024.

He said the incident took place in the Igando area of Lagos State.

Osuji alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained the money from one Alhaji Suleiman Bawale, under the guise of selling him a plot of land.

The prosecutor also told the court that Asibe collected the money in two tranches of N8m, and N5m, respectively.

Osuji disclosed that sometime in February, the defendant allegedly stole the sum of N8m from the complainant and promised to sell land to him, which he didn’t.

“In February, Asibe stole N8m, from the complainant with a promise to sell him a plot of land, which he failed to deliver.

“Then, in May, he obtained an additional N5m, from Bawale, again, promising land that he did not provide,” said Osuji.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 313,280 (1) (a) (b) and punishable under Sections 314, (1) (a) (b) (3) and 287, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendant, who was arraigned before Magistrate Feyikemi George, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Consequently, Magistrate George granted him bail in the sum of N1m, with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties must provide three months’ bank statements showing a balance of N1m, and have their addresses verified.

The case was adjourned until October 30, 2024, for a mention.