BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
AN Osun State Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Osogbo, on Monday, arraigned a 40 year- old man, Adepoju Taofeeq Olalekan, for allegedly defrauding 186 civil servants in the state.
Olalekan was accused of swindling the affected persons said to be staff of Irepodun Local Government Area of the state, to the tune of N45,293,916.
The defendant was said to have conspired with some First Bank officials, while standing as a middle man, to acquire loans for 186 persons, knowing it was a false pretence and with intent to defraud.
Police prosecutor, ASP Fagboyinbo Abiodun, told the court that the accused committed the offence between the year 2012 and the month of July, 2015 in Osogbo magisterial district.
Olalekan was said to have secured loans totalling 45,293,916 for the 186 persons with the pretence of repaying the loan.
Olalekan, who is facing a four-count charge, pleaded not guilty to the allegations slammed against him.
Fagboyinbo alleged that the offence committed contravened sections 422, 419, and 516 of the criminal code Cap 34 Vol. 2, laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
Defence counsel, SP M. Ogundari, prayed the court to grant his client bail.
The Magistrate, M.A Awodele, granted the accused bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties that are civil servants not below Grade Level 15.
Awodele adjourned the case till February 9, 2021.
