A Mapo Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Ibadan, on Thursday, remanded a 26-year-old suspected fraudster, Musa Jafar, over an alleged fraud of N450,000 and certificate forgery.

Mr Jafar, however, pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, false pretence, fraudulent obtaining and forgery, brought against him.

Following his not-guilty plea, the court’s president, S.M. Akintayo, admitted him to bail in the sum of N400,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ms Akintayo added that one of the sureties must be a blood relation and the other, a community leader.

She added that they must both show evidence of tax payments to the Oyo State government.

Subsequently, she adjourned the hearing of the case to Aug. 28.

The prosecuting counsel, Insp Ayodeji Ayeni, had earlier informed the court that the defendant allegedly committed the crime sometime in June 2024 at the Basorun area of Ibadan.

Mr Ayeni said Mr Jafar, with others at large, fraudulently obtained N450,000 from one Naimat Oladepo, deceiving her that she would be taught some professional courses in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).

The prosecutor also noted that the defendant presented a forged certificate to the complainant to prove that he was an expert in the field of ICT.

According to Mr Ayeni, the offences contravened the provisions of Section 516, 419, 467 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State 2000.

(NAN)