An hotelier, Samson Ogunfadebo, was on Tuesday arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding a businessman, Mr. Lalu Acher, of N30million.

Ogunfadebo, 50, was alleged to have obtained the money from the businessman on the pretext of leasing his hotel to him.

He is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining, stealing, breach of the peace and fraud preferred against him by the police before Magistrate B. I. Bakare.

Prosecuting Sergeant Cyriacus Osuji told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences between January 1 and December 2018 at 14, Ayinde Afolabi Street, College bus stop, Igando, Lagos.

He said that the defendant and others at large, under false pretence, fraudulently obtained N30million from Acher, to lease his hotel located at Ayinde Afolabi Street, off LASU road, Igando, which he had already mortgaged to First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Eco Bank.

“The defendant, after mortgaging the property to the two banks, leased it to the complainant and relocated to Ibadan, where he started farming.

“The complainant then renovated the hotel so that it could be put to use.

“After the refurbishment was done, the banks came to meet the complainant that the property in question was mortgaged to them and that the case was in court.”

The prosecutor said: “Ogunfadebo stole the cash, a sum of N30million, belonging to the complainant, Lalu Acher.

“The defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace.”

His counsel, Richard Oguntade, urged the court to grant the defendant bail.

He said: “The offence is a bailable offence and we are seeking the intelligence of the court to be liberal in granting bail. I want the court to take into consideration that the defendant is still prescribed innocent until proven guilty.

“We also intend to exploit settlement in this matter. I have known the complainant for 45 years. We were classmates,” Oguntade said.

The prosecutor objected to the bail application of the defence counsel, saying the defendant is a flight risk and may run away if granted bail.

Magistrate Bakare, however, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N3million, with two sureties in the like sum.

The case continues on January 22.

Osuji stated further that FCMB had taken over the property in question and that there was every likelihood that the defendant, if granted bail, would escape.

A lawyer holding brief for the complainant, Mr. David Fadile, stated that a judgment was delivered on July 11 on the said property by Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court confirming FCMB as the owner.

He said: “In corroboration of what the prosecutor said, the defendant has no permanent place of stay.”

The defence counsel also confirmed that he is aware of the judgment, confirming FCMB as the owner of the property.

He said that one of the sureties must be a land owner, who must present a copy of the title document before the court.

Bakare ordered that the sureties must deposit their international passports or any other identification and have their addresses verified.

JOHNSONSOLAFUNMI:
30 million Naira to lease and hotel you’ll need to renovate

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