BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Police in Osun State have arrested a 33-year-old man, Nnaji Chigozie, for allegedly defrauding a man, Godspower Imiete, of N5.5million.
Chigozie, said to be a travel agent, allegedly collected the money from Imiete with a promise to assist his son,identified as Thankyou Imiete, in securing admission into a university abroad, but failed to do so.
The accused person was said to have conspired with fleeing others to obtain the millions of naira from the father of the admission seeker in Osogbo, capital of Osun State, after vowing to ensure that Thankyou was admitted at a University in Georgia.
When the matter was brought to a Chief Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Osogbo, by the Police, the state Ministry of Justice took over the matter.
Biodun Badiora, a prosecuting counsel from the Ministry, informed the court that Chigozie and others, now at large, on or about January 31, 2023, in Osogbo, Osun State, conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 422 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
The charge read, “Nnaji Chigozie and others now at large, did with intent to defraud, unlawfully obtain the sum of Five Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira (#5,500,000.00k) from one Dr. Godspower Imiete under the pretence of securing admission for his son, Imiete Thankyou into a University in Georgia, a pretence you know to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State Nigeria 2002.
“That you did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Stealing and thereby committed an offend contrary to and punishable under Section 516′ of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002.
“You did steal the sum of N5,500,000:00, property of one Dr Godspower Imiete and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol.II Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”
Chigozie entered into a not-guilty plea. The presiding Chief Magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara, ordered that the defendant be remanded in correctional centre and adjourned till June 20, 2023 for mention.
