A 28-year-old farmer, Isiah Owowole, on Friday appeared before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State over alleged N3 million fraud.

The defendant, of no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge bordering on advance-fee fraud and conversion of other people’s property for personal use.

The prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, told the court that the defendant committed the fraud on January 24, about 10.00 a.m. at Okin Road, Okitipupa.

Mr Orogbemi said that the defendant fraudulently received N3 million from the complainant, Joseph Nwaja, on the pretext of selling two plots of land to him, but failed to do so.

He said, however, that the defendant converted the money to his personal use.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 419 and 383 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Oluyemi Olumekun, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million and one surety in like sum.

Mrs Olumekun said that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and present evidence of two years’ tax payment to the state government.

She adjourned the case until June 3 for further hearing. 

(NAN)