N1.7m Theft:Accused Gets Bail

A 42-year-old businessman, Derrick Lawson, who allegedly obtained N1.7 million on the pretext of supplying goods to Martins Inegbeanhi, was on Thursday in Lagos granted bail in the sum of N200,000.

Lawson, who pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of stealing, threatening violence and obtaining money by false pretences, resides at the Agege area of Lagos.

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, which gave the ruling, also asked the accused to produce two sureties as part of the bail conditions.

According to Magistrate Y. R. Pinheiro, the sureties must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Mathew Akhaluode, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in January 2014, at the Ikeja area of Lagos.

According to him, the accused collected N1.7 million from the complainant, Inegbeanhi with a promise to supply bags, phones and phone accessories to him from China, but failed to do so.

Akhaluode said that the accused converted the money to his own personal use and started avoiding the complainant.

The prosecutor said that when the complainant did not get any feedback from the accused, he decided to call him on phone, which he refused to pick.

Akhaluode said that when the accused eventually picked the call, he threatened to deal with the complainant and his family, if they don’t stop pestering him.

“Inegbeanhi reported the case to the police and the accused was immediately arrested,’’ the prosecutor said.

Akhaluode said that the offences contravened Sections 56, 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Our correspondent reports that Section 312 prescribes a jail term of 15 years on conviction.

The case was adjourned to January 5, 2017 for mention.