MICHAEL AKINOLA
A man, Samuel Olugbenga Soremi, has been swindled in Lagos State while attempting to buy a house for a paltry sum of N2.8m from the owner, Herbert Fogo West and it turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the victim, Mr. Soremi, paid the money in question to Mr. West for a house located at Onatoro Street, Surulere, Lagos, with the intention to take possession.
However, while waiting for the seller to prepare the necessary documents and hand over the property to him, the owner sold the house to another buyer, refused to refund his money and also threatened to kill him.
The matter was reported to the Police at Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos. The Police operatives moved into action and eventually arrested the 55-year old Mr. West for interrogation.
In the course of interrogation, the Police asked the suspect to refund the money or sell the house to the complainant. But while conducting further investigation, the Police discovered that the suspect had sold the house to another buyer and yet refused to refund the money to the complainant.
The Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT ONE: “That you, Herbert Fogo West ‘m’ and others still at large sometime in 2007, at about 1200hrs, at Onatoro Street, Surulere, Lagos in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit: Obtaining Money by False Pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT TWO:”That you, Herbert Fogo West ‘m’ and others still at large on the same date, time and place, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did by false pretence to sell a house, fraudulently obtained the sum of Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,800,000.00), which you converted to your own personal use, property of one Samuel Olugbenga Soremi ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT THREE:”That you, Herbert Fogo West ‘m’ and others still at large on the same date, time and place, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Two Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,800,000.00), property of one Samuel Olugbenga Soremi ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT FOUR:”That you, Herbert Fogo West ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, time and place in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace, by selling a house to one Samuel Olugbega Soremi ‘m’ and later criminally resold it to another person and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT FIVE:”That you, Herbert Fogo West ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, time and place in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did threaten to kill one Samuel Olugbenga Soremi ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 56 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Francisca Job, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Adedayo Tella, granted him bail with two 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 defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
