By Ngozi Njoku
A 46-year-old businessman, Emmanuel Ogiata, was on Wednesday arraigned before an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, over alleged N14,100 million dollar car fraud.
Ogiata, who resides at Festac area of Lagos, is being charged with stealing and obtaining under false pretense, to which he, however, pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Insp Donjour Perezi, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between February and April 2023 at Ojota area of Lagos.
Perezi said that Ogiata fraudulently obtained the sum of $14,100 dollars, which is equivalent to N21,685,518 million, from one Mr Olubola Sanu, the complainant.
She said that the defendant collected the money from the complainant under the pretence of procuring three fairly-used Toyota Corolla saloon cars from the U.S.A.
“After receiving the money, the defendant converted it to his personal use and did not supply the cars,” she said.
The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Magistrate, Mrs S.K. Matepo, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two reliable sureties in like sum.
Matepo said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and must provide evidence of tax payments to the state government.
She, thereafter, adjourned the case till July 2 for hearing
