A 35-year-old gospel musician, Olalekan Opaleye, has been arrested by policemen attached to the X-Squad of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly obtaining the sum of N40m from a pensioner, Mr. Michael Shote, under false pretences.

Shote, who retired from a telecommunication company in London, and the suspect were said to have known each other two years ago, when the former reportedly told him to quit driving and promised to sponsor his musical career.

It was gathered that the 75-year-old pensioner financed a record produced by Opaleye, who lived in an Ikorodu building owned by the pensioner.

Our correspondent was told that in July 2013, Opaleye approached Shote, saying former Senate President David Mark, allegedly wanted to give a contract to his friend to supply 20,000 laptops and freezers, among others, to the National Assembly.

He was said to have persuaded the businessman to invest in the deal and reportedly collected the sum piecemeal between July 2013 and April 2015 on the pretext that he wanted to use it to facilitate the contract.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the scam blew open in April 2015, when the complainant insisted on seeing the documents backing the contract, which the suspect could not produce. Opaleye was arrested after the alleged fraud was reported at the state police command.

Shote, a resident of Irepedun Street, in the Sangisha area of the state, said he fell for suspect’s scam because he wanted to assist him.

He said, “I knew him in 2013 through my sister, who he worked for as a driver. He complained to me that he was unfairly treated. I told him to leave the job. He took me to his parents in Mushin and when I saw their situation, I decided to assist him.

“I gave him my apartment in Ikorodu to live. He told me he sings gospel music and needed a financier. I spent about N5m on his record.

“In July, 2013, he said he met a secondary school friend who brought the contract. Because of the trust I had in him, I decided to facilitate the contract with my money.

“At a point, my friends told me that the contract was a fraud, but I did not believe them until I asked him to bring the documents in respect of the contract, but he could not provide them.

“I have lived in London for 50 years. That is where my family is and that is where I worked for decades until my retirement. I only come home to assist people.”

Opaleye was arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on three counts of fraud and stealing.

The charges read in part, “That you, Olalekan Opaleye and others at large, between July 2013 and April 2015, on Irepodun Street, Shangisha, Ketu, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit; stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

“That you and others at large on the same dates, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, with intent to defraud, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N40m from one Michael Shote, under the false pretences that you would use the money to finance contract of supply of laptops to the National Assembly given to you by the former Senate President David Mark, a representation you know to be false.”

The police said the offences were punishable under sections 409; 312 (1) (a) (3) and 285 (9), (b) (c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His counsel, A.A. Odetunde, prayed the court to grant him bail in a most liberal term.

A police prosecutor, ASP Samson Ekikere, pleaded for bail conditions that would compel the defendant to attend the court, adding that “the money in question is not a fictitious amount.”

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Y.O. Aje-Afunwa, admitted Opaleye to bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till November 16, 2015.

http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/police-arrest-musician-for-defrauding-pensioner-of-n40m/

Pics of Olalekan Opaleye the musician

Ok. Doing good comes back to bite you.


By the way the musician looks like Azadus.

Well here in France: where am schooling...we don't defraud people

nawah oo, see d guy face,, more like raggae artist, less like gospel artist,,, i hope the old man has been refunded, sometimes its not good to be good,, pple take u for granted

the man is not sharp for him to have fallen for such a cheap scam





you didn't ask for papers and he got those links to the Senate President for him to have being asked to supply such goods.....




that's the guy greetings to you as you welcome to Nigeria

Not all those who call on the name of GOD truly serve him......





I don't believe all men but I believe this my alcoholic malt will soon finish

G

Wetin dey happen to Meek Mill , Nicki Minaj and Drake?

"I only came back to Nigeria to help people" Onyeoma Biati...

Hmmm pastor and money are like monkey and banana

chai!!

I first think say na atorishe before reading whole content

NOTED

Please remove the word 'gospel'..... And put the special ' blue'(condemned) prison cloth on him.. .

she must be a gospel gangsta

Ok

he is surely not a gospel musician, I am sure of that

haha

this is sad.
I dont Bleep with poor or broke people!!>
They are the worst set of people on earth!

INTROVERT:
Ok. Doing good comes back to bite you.


By the way the musician looks like Azadus.

nope...he looks like an hazardous waste..

What exactly makes him a gospel musician? He is a contractor and not a musician

Things people do for money. Saw someone God sent to u to become better and u blew it. Continue ur miserable life in jail.

Wow...nice 1

We'll Make Boko Haram Beg For Peace, New Chief Of Army Staff

this guy is a big foool. Some people are looking for this kind of opportunity, to have people that care around them, who can actually help them out and encourage them. You found such person and decided to defraud him. Useless goat!

what evidence is this, nawa o, I wonder how people cover up with those lies

Hmm

Na wa o...















People no dey get sense?

This young man is a disgrace. From being a driver someone with a kind heart decided helping you with a huge sum of 5m yet you returned to scam such a person.

Devil go use your meat do suya.