Ondo Court Grants Father, Son Bail over N6m Cocoa Fraud

The Chief Magistrate Court in Akure has granted bail to 34-year-old Jide Akinsanmi and his father, Robinson Akinsanmi. They are standing trial for allegedly defrauding a produce buyer of N6 million.

Akinsanmi and his son were arraigned before the court for obtaining the sum from one Adebowale Adeghate under the pretense of supplying him with dried cocoa beans.

While Jide, a cocoa farmer, was brought before the court on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, and obtaining under false pretenses, his father Robinson, 72, was arraigned on a one-count charge of conspiracy.

The Police prosecutor, Nelson Akintimehin, told the court that the defendants committed the offenses in October 2021 at Utaja Road, Idanre local government area of Ondo State.

Akintimehin said the defendants conspired to accept the sum of N10 million in advance from the complainant, Adeghate, with a promise to sell dried cocoa beans to him.

He, however, said the defendants only supplied dried beans valued at N3,055,950, with the balance of N6,144,050 unaccounted for, alleging that the first defendant, Jide, converted the sum of N6,144,050 belonging to Adeghate for his own use.

Akintimehin said: “On June 28, 2022, the second defendant, Robinson, encouraged and procured his son, Jide, to facilitate the non-supply of the said dried cocoa beans by using a cocoa plantation at Basoto, Irowa, Idanre local government, located on the left side of one Mr. Thomas’s farmland and downstream, which he knew does not belong to him.”

He said following the failure of the defendants to give satisfactory reasons to justify their actions, they were brought before the court on the alleged offenses.

According to the prosecutor, the offense contravenes Section 516, 42(1)(8), 383, and 7(a)(c) and (d) of the Criminal Code, Law of Ondo State, 2006.

The two defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges, while their lawyer, A. Ojopagogo, pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal terms.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. O.O. Oladapo, admitted the first defendant to bail in the sum of N7 million with one responsible surety in like sum, while the father, Robinson, was also granted bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum. The case was adjourned till May 16 for hearing.