The Lagos State Police Command arraigned 29-year-old Onwe Israel on Friday for allegedly fraudulently obtaining provision items worth N18,659,100.
The defendant was arraigned at the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, before Magistrate O.Y. Adefope and was charged with three counts of fraudulent acts and theft.
The charges alleged that Onwe fraudulently tricked and induced Alhaja Monsurat Lamidi and other wholesale suppliers to deliver provision items in a greater quantity worth N18,659,100.00 to him, but he ended up paying less than the quantity supplied.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Onwe allegedly bought provisions worth over N9m on several dates and stole receipt booklets from different provision sellers, paying only a total sum of N924,000.
Upon investigation, the police discovered that he had allegedly defrauded five other wholesalers. The wholesalers claimed that he was arrested, and some products were recovered from his shop.
Prosecutor Haruna Magaji informed the court that the alleged offence was committed between May 13 and May 29, 2024, at Ereko Market, Lagos, stating that the alleged offences are punishable under Sections 314 (1a) and 314 (1b), 323 (1), and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The prosecutor also said the recovered goods and other witnesses in the market serve as evidence that the alleged offences were committed.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Adefope ordered a bail bond of N5m with two sureties pending further hearing and adjourned the case until July 25, 2024, for further hearing.
