BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
A 67-year-old-man, Johnson Siyanbola Abiodun, has been remanded in prison by an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court in Osun State for allegedly swindling a company of the sum of N12 million.
The police told the court that Abiodun, who pretended to be a cocoa beans supplier, obtained the said amount of money from one Oduwoye Waheed of Wakman Golden Heritage Limited with a pretense that he would supply the item but failed.
The charge brought against the defendant read that “You, Johnson Siyanbola Abiodun, and others now at large, on or about November 17, 2020 in Osogbo, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit a felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretense.
“You (defendant) and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, did by false pretense and with intent to defraud, obtain the sum of N12 million from one Oduwoye Waheed of Wakman Golden Heritage Limited, under the pretence that you had cocoa beans in your custody to be supplied to the company.
“You, on January 28, 2021 in Osogbo, did issue First City Monument Bank cheque number 47071901 and 47071902 to one Oduwoye Waheed on behalf of Wakman Golden Heritage Limited to withdraw the sum of 12,922,000 which was dishonored at the bank and written Drawers Attention Required.
“You, Johnson Siyanbola Abiodun, on November 17, 2020 in Osogbo, did with intent to defraud, knowingly deposed to an affidavit at the Federal High Court of Nigeria, holding at Osogbo Judicial Division which said affidavit is dated the 17th day of November 2020, and made use of same to defraud one Waheed Oduwoye of Wakman Golden Heritage Limited.”
Police prosecutor, Inspector Elisha Olusegun, said that the defendant committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 118 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
He added that the sexagenarian also contravened sections 1(1)(b) and 1(b)(i) of the Dishonored Cheque (Offences) Act, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Olusegun said that Abiodun further committed offences contrary to sections 1(1)(a)(b) and 1(1)(a)(3) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the first count of conspiracy but was not allowed to make pleas on offences of fraud.
Magistrate A. A. Adebayo ordered that the sexagenarian be remanded in the correctional facility and adjourned the matter till May 23.
