A middle-aged man, Abayomi Ishola has been dragged before a Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital, for allegedly defrauding over 20 job seekers about N1.7m.
The defendant, 55-year-old Ishola, was said to have claimed to be an agent assisting job seekers to secure employment but duped unsuspecting victims millions of Naira.
The defendant was brought before the court by men of the Nigerian Police Force on two counts charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretenses.
The charge sheet read in part: “That you, Abayomi Ishola and four others still at large between the months of May and December 2020 at about 10 am at Ehin Apata Street in Akure Magisterial District conspired to commit felony to wit obtaining money under false pretences.
“That you, Abayomi Ishola, on the same date, time, and place fraudulently obtained the sum of one million seven hundred and ninety-eight thousand naira N1.789million from the following persons; Olorunshola Ifedolapo, Afolabi Sunday, Ibitoye Femi, Ogunleye, Cletus Abimbola, Fagbemi Busayo and fourteen others.”
The accused pleaded guilty to the two counts charged against him.
The police prosecutor, Mr Taiwo Oniyere, told the court that since the defendant had pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against him, the police is ready to prosecute its case.
He said the Investigating Police (IPO) Officer and two others were in court to give evidence in the matter while the defence counsel, O. I. Tiwo, told the court that he was surprised that his client pleaded guilty.
He urged the court to temper justice with mercy, submitting that the defendant was confused being a first time offender.
The trial Magistrate A. B. U Abu, said since the defendant had pleaded guilty, the court has no other option than to proceed to summary trial.
He said the penalty for the count one offence is three years imprisonment, while count two is seven years.
However, the Magistrate who considered the plea of the defence counsel, therefore stood down his ruling on the matter till Monday, 19 2020, when he is expecting the defendant to bring the money he defrauded the innocent people before the court
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