BY Bilesanmi Abayomi
A 52-year-old trader, Yusuf Hamzat, was on Tuesday docked in an Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for alleged N1.2 million yam fraud.
Hamzat, who resides in Owutu-Agric area in Ikorodu, Lagos state, is charged with fraud and theft.
He pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Sunday Bassey, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on Aug. 25 at Mile 12 market, Ketu area of Lagos.
Sunday said that the defendant obtained 1,010 tubers of yam valued at N1,121,000 from the complainant Tonilola Agboola in a pretence to sell and remit money to her which was false.
According to the complainant, she supplied the said yams on Aug. 25 to the defendant and he paid N237,000 thereby withholding a balance of N884,000.
The prosecutor said the defendant failed to fulfill this promise for obtaining the money, but instead converted the money to his personal use.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Section 287 stipulates three years’ jail term for stealing.
The Magistrate, A.O Daodu , granted the defendant bail in the sum of NN400,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Daodu ordered the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case till Oct. 21 for mention.