A 59-year-old businessman, Adekunle Davies, who allegedly defrauded an accommodation seeker of N380,000 on Thursday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

Davies, who resides in the Agege area of Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Insp. Emmanuel Ajayi told the court that the defendant committed the offences on Oct. 21 at the Agege area of Lagos.

Ajayi said the defendant obtained the money from the complainant, Mrs Toyin Lawal, for an apartment, which he failed to provide.

“All efforts made by the complainant to retrieve her money proved abortive.

“She reported the case to the police and the defendant was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

Ajayi said the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Section 287 carries three years’ imprisonment for stealing, while Section 314 stipulates 15 years for obtaining money under false pretences.

The magistrate, Mrs A.S Odusanya, granted the defendant bail in the sum N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

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Odusanya ordered that the sureties should be gainfully employed with evidence of two years’ tax payments to the Lagos State government.

She adjourned the case to Jan. 10, 2022, for mention.