2 docked over $50,000 fraud

Prosper

Two businessmen, Noma Mohammed, 41, and Kabiru Mohammed, 32, were yesterday brought before a Lagos Magistrates’ Court sitting at Igbosere for allegedly defrauding a Bureau de Change owner of $50,000.

The businessmen, whose residential addresses could not be verified, are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences and stealing preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Inspector Stephen Molo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on August 14 at 12, Sanni Adewale Street, in Lagos Island.

He said the businessmen impersonated themselves as Bureau de Change agents to one Alhaji Saminu Mohammed who runs same business.

He said the complainant, believing that the defendants were genuine agents, gave them $50,000 to help him convert to Naira equivalent.

The prosecutor further added that after the businessmen received the money from Saminu, they did not convert the money as promised but absconded with the dollars.

Molo said the complainant reported the matter to the police who traced and arrested Noma in Lagos, while Kabiru was arrested in Kano.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed is punishable under Sections 278(B), 312(1)(a) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Section 312 prescribes 15 years imprisonment for anyone convicted of the offence of obtaining under false pretence. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, J. A. Adegun admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N250,000 each, with two responsible sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case to October 15 for mention.

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