The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, arraigned a man identified as Kazeem Olawore before the Ikeja Special Offences Court for an alleged N21 million land fraud.

Mr Olawore was arraigned on two counts of stealing and obtaining money by false pretence.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his not guilty plea, EFCC counsel, Spiff Owede, asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre.

The prosecution alleged, in one count, that the defendant committed the offences in October 2021 in Lagos.

The anti-graft agency submitted that the defendant, with intent to defraud, obtained N21 million from Lincoln City Services and Investments Ltd. under the representation that he had 15 acres of land for sale at Igboku village, Ilara town, in Epe.

The EFCC said the sum was part payment of the purchase price, a representation he knew to be false.

The commission further alleged that the defendant dishonestly converted the money to his personal use.

According to the EFCC, the alleged offences contravene Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The defence counsel, Muhammed Imoru, informed the court that the nominal complainant had written to the EFCC seeking to withdraw the case on the grounds that the defendant had made full payment of the money owed to him.

Justice Mojisola Dada adjourned the case until April 27 for the commencement of the trial.

Ms Dada also ordered the release of the defendant to his counsel.

(NAN)