A 43-year-old realtor, Olumade Owoseni, on Friday, appeared before the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in a N19 million alleged fraud case.

Mr Owoseni, whose address was not provided, is facing a three-count conspiracy charge, obtaining by pretences and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, John Iberedem, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in March 2020 at Gracemade Homes and Property in the Ketu area of Lagos.

Mr Iberedem alleged that the defendant collected N19 million from the complainant, Ifeoluwa Bello, for seven plots of land but failed to provide it.

“The complainant, a businesswoman, was contacted sometime in 2020 by the company consultant to invest in properties.

“She paid the sum of N19 million for seven plots of land on two consecutive dates to the defendant, and since then, she has been calling the company to no avail.

“He was later apprehended and handed over to the police,” Mr Iberedem said.

He said the offences contravened sections 280(1)(a)(b), 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The magistrate, E. Kubeinje, granted the defendant N5 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

Mr Kubeinje ruled that the defendants must be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State government.

She adjourned the case until November 13 for mention.

(NAN)