A 67-year-old man, Matthew Alowooja, on Thursday appeared before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court, Osun for alleged N1.2 million fraud.
Alowooja, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Asp Emmanuel Abdullahi, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offences on Jan. 8 at 11.00 a.m. at Aba Store Village, Ile-Ife.
Abdullahi alleged that the defendant fraudulently collected the sum of N1.2 million from the complainant, one Mr Omonigho Richard to lease out a cocoa farm to Richard that was not his.
He claimed that the defendant converted the money to his personal use.
Abdullahi said that the offence contravened sections 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Law of Osun, 2002.
Magistrate Taofeek Badmus, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety in like sum.
Badmus said that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and should swear to affidavit of means.
He added that the surety must provide three years tax payment or deposit the documents of a landed property worth N2 million to the court.
Badmus adjourned the case until May 8 for mention.
