A 42-year-old driver, Joel Olumakinwa, was arraigned before a magistrates’ court in Ikeja on Friday for allegedly defrauding his workmate of N500,000.

Mr Olumakinwa, who resides in Ogba, Lagos, is charged with obtaining money by false pretences and stealing.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

The prosecutor, DSP Victor Eruada, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on August 9, 2023, in Aguda, Ogba, Lagos.

Mr Eruada said the defendant obtained the money on the pretext of selling his Toyota Sienna vehicle, with registration number AGL 626 FB, to his workmate, Oluwafemi Adedeji, the complainant.

According to him, the defendant agreed to sell the vehicle for N1.2 million, but after Mr Adedeji had deposited N500,000 out of the money, the defendant failed to give the vehicle to him but instead sold it to someone else.

The prosecutor further stated that even after the defendant had sold the vehicle, he refused to refund the complainant’s money but converted it to his use.

According to him, the offences contravene sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The magistrate, T.A. Oladele, admitted Mr Olumakinwa to N450,000 bail, with two sureties in like sum.

Ms Oladele adjourned the case till January 31 for mention. 

(NAN)