A businessman, Joseph Friday, has been arraigned at the Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos State, for allegedly defrauding his customer, Peter Onuorah, of N2.5m around Okobaba Sawmill, in the Ebute Metta area of the state.
Friday was arraigned on two counts of theft.
The police prosecutor, Orobosa Osagie, told the court that the defendant committed the crime sometime in March 2022, adding that Onuorah paid him the N2.5m to supply him with timber.
According to Osagie, the offences are punishable under Sections 341(1) and 287(9) (b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.
The charges read in part, “That you, Joseph Friday, sometime in March 2022, around 12.30am at Okobaba Sawmill, Ebute Metta, in Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did obtain N2,550,000.00 from one Peter Onuorah, with the pretence that you were going to supply him timber, a misinterpretation you knew to be false and you converted the money to your personal use and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 341(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defence counsel, barrister O. Gabriel prayed the court to grant the defendant bail in the most liberal terms.
Magistrate Folarin Williams granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
She, however, ordered that Friday be remanded in prison custody until the bail terms were fulfilled.
The case was adjourned till March 14, 2023.
