Sabiru Akinlabi, a 40-year-old welder, was charged with theft and fraud involving N346,000 worth of iron rods on Thursday at an Ogudu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State.
Akinlabi, who lives in the Iyana-Church neighbourhood of Alapere, Ketu, Lagos State, is charged with two offences.
But he entered a not-guilty plea.
Insp. Donjor Perezi, the prosecutor, informed the court that the defendant had committed the crimes on December 22, 2021, in Agboyi, Alapere, Ketu.
According to Perezi, under the pretence of paying for the iron rods upon delivery, the defendant obtained iron rods from the complainant, Mr. Kasali Muritala, valued at 346,000.
He claimed that although Muritala had given the iron rods to Akinlabi, the defendant had not made the necessary payments.
He says that the crimes were in contravention of the Lagos Criminal Law of 2015, Sections 411 and 314.
Gaining under false pretences, according to Section 314, carries a 15-year prison sentence.
The defendant was granted bail in the amount of NN80,000 with two sureties in the same amount by the magistrate, Mrs. M.O. Tanimola.
The sureties must live within the court’s territorial jurisdiction, Tanimola said.
He postponed consideration of the case until November 9.
