MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from the Lagos State Command have arrested two men, Shabi Ismaila Oladele, 54 and Basbiru Tajudeen, 66, for allegedly swindling victims of over N75m under false pretence.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects, Oladele and Tajudeen, allegedly deceived Mr. Okeke Peters, Mrs. Okereke and others into sponsoring and surveying 136 Acres of Land at Ilamija, Epe, for which they collected the sum of N75,560,000 under the pretext to release the 136 plots to them.
However, after the victims had sponsored the survey, the suspects declined and converted the whole money to their own use without giving them the plots of land they had agreed.
The matter was reported to the Police and the suspects were arrested. They were detained at the State Police Command for interrogation over their alleged conduct against the victims.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The charges read:
“That you, Shabi Ismail Oladele “m” of No.10 Shabi Street, Bado Oke Area, Epe and Bashiru Tajudeen Adewale “m” of No.98, Odumola Road, Iraye Epe: Sometimes in 2008 at Epe in the Lagos magisterial District, did conspire between yourselves to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 411 and punishable under Section 413 of the criminal code Lagos State, 2015,”
Count 11:”That you, Shabi Ismail Oladele “m” of No. 10, Shabi Street, Bado oke Area, Epe, sometimes at Epe, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did dishonestly and unlawfully deceive Mrs. Okereke “P” and Mr. Sunday Okeke Peters ‘m’ into believing that you owned 136 Acres of land in Epe, which you were willing to sell part to them and in the guise, criminally demanded and the sum of N280,000 and converted it to your own use and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 314 and punishable under 314(1,2&3) of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State.”
Count III: “That you, Ishabi Ismail Oladele “M” and Bashiru Tajudeen Adewale “m” on same date within the same Magisterial District, did deceive Mr. Okeke Peters, Mrs. Okereke and others into sponsoring and surveying 136 Acres of land at Ilamija, Epe, which you claimed to be yours and collected the sum of N75,560,000 under the pretext to release 136 plots to them but declined and converted the whole money to your own use and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor Inspector Lucky Ihiehie asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence that brought them before the Court.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O.Tanimola, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
