MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 45-year old carpenter, John Edward Adie, has landed in trouble for allegedly swindling a man, Aboh Roland, of over N.66m with a promise to secure a nonexisting admission for his daughter in a Nursing School in Warri, Delta State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between September and October, 2024, in Ipaja area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect, Adie, collected the money, bolted away and did not secure any admission as he had promised neither did he return the money to the owner.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ipaja Division. The Police operatives trailed, eventually arrested and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct against the complainant.
While being interrogated, he admitted to have collected the money and told the Police that he had spent it and had no money to refund the complainant.
The Police found him culpable and charged before Court for the alleged conspiracy, fraud and stealing which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, John Edward Adie ‘M’ and others at large, between September and October, 2024 at Ipaja, Lagos State in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit OBT/Stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, John Edward Adie ‘M’ and others at large, on the same date, time and place and in the aforementioned magisterial district, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N668, 200:00 (Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred Naira only) from one Aboh Roland ‘M’ with a promise to secure admission for his daughter in a nursing school in Warri, Delta State, which you did not do, a representation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, John Edward Adie ‘M’ and others at large, on the same date, time and place and in the aforesaid magisterial district, did steal the sum of N668, 200:00 (Six Hundred and Sixty Eight Thousand, Two Hundred Naira only) property of Aboh Roland ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then 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, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 21st August, 2025, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
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