A 30-year-old artisan, Tunde Olaore, was arraigned before the Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan on Tuesday on charges of fraud and theft.

Mr Olaore, a technician, is standing trial on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences and theft.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Adeshina Folaranmi, alleged that the defendant committed the offences in June at D’Rovans, the Ring Road area of Ibadan.

He alleged that the defendant obtained millions of naira from some complainants, namely Olalekan Ayeni, Akeem Wariz, and Rahamon Opeyemi, under the pretext of selling them a condemned ice block-making machine.

He was alleged to have obtained the money with the intent to steal, as he made off with it and never supplied the machine.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendant also stole four ice-block-making machine compressors, worth N4.5 million, belonging to Oladipupo Ojo.

The offences contravene sections 390(9), 419, and 516 of the Criminal Law of Oyo State, 2000.

The magistrate, Oluwabusayo Osho, granted the defendant bail of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

She adjourned the case until November 24 for a hearing.

(NAN)