The police in Ogun has dragged four suspects before an Ota Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding five persons of N2.6 million.
The defendants reportedly conspired with their accomplices to obtain N2.6 million, under the pretext of working with Quest International Company, from the complainants to introduce them to internet business.
They were identified as Nwusulor Philip, 28; Sunday Basil, 28; Mbam Stephen, 31; and Nwafor Solomon, whose addresses were not provided.
They were charged with fraud, collecting money under false pretence and conspiracy.
The Prosecutor, Insp E. O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendants and others still at large committed the offences between Feb. 1 and June 30 at No.1 Obalewo Close, Off Ago Ishaga, Ota.
He said the complainants were, Husanni Abdulrahman, Faisat Saidu, Yahaya Magaji, Sulaiman Usman, and Shuaibu Saddam.
“The defendants converted the monies to personal use instead of fulfilling the agreement between them,” he said.
The offences contravened sections 390 (9), 419, and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006, the prosecutor said.
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However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Magistrate, Mrs A. O. Adeyemi, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N2 million each with one surety in like sum.
Adeyemi ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to the Ogun State Government.
She adjourned the case until August 17 for further hearing.
Meanwhile, police in Kano State have uncovered a new tactic employed by criminals to rob tricycle riders and their passengers.
State Commissioner of Police, CP. Muhammad Usaini Gumel, made the revelation while parading 108 suspects at the command’s headquarters, Kano.
He said during the Eid El Kabir period, police recorded a number of incidents where tricycle riders were attacked and robbed of their tricycles and other belongings by some criminals who disguised as passengers.
According to him, “Police on 14/06/2023 at about 2049hrs, received report that a 20-year-old Bilal Abdu (tricycle rider) of Gaida Quarters, Kumbotso LGA, Kano while conveying four passengers to Chalawa Quarters, Kano, on reaching Samegu Quarters, the said passengers sprayed a substance on the Tricycle Rider’s face where he lost consciousness and they ran away with the tricycle.
“Also, on 14/06/2023 at about 2200hrs, three unknown hoodlums boarded a tricycle and on reaching Dawaki Road, one of the hoodlums stabbed the Tricycle rider with a knife on his neck and ran away with the tricycle.”
Gumel said on receiving the report, a team of detectives were immediately drafted to the scenes and succeeded in arresting some of the suspects, recovering the tricycles.
He said the cases are still under investigation, and will be taken to court.
Gumel warned tricycle riders to be cautious and report any attempt to the security agencies.