A 25-year-old student, Hassan Kamal, has appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding a woman based in the United Kingdom (UK), Zainab Ibrahim.
Mr Kamal allegedly obtained £2,425 (N1.04 million) from Mrs Ibrahim on the pretext that he would give her the naira equivalent.
The accused is a resident of No. 1 Mosan Lane, Ipaja, Lagos.
He has pleaded not guilty to six-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretences.
Police prosecutor, Innocent Odugbo, told the court that the accused committed the offences with one other still at large on October 22 and 31, 2018, at Oniwaya, Agege, Lagos.
Mr Odugbo said Kamal convinced the complainant to help him receive money, which was meant for his school fees, from a foreign exchange agent, and that he assured her of giving her brother the naira equivalent.
Odugbo said Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised) stipulated a seven-year jail term for stealing, while Section 314 prescribed a 15-year jail term for obtaining under false pretences.
Magistrate S. K. Matepo granted Kamal bail in the sum of N200,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.
The sureties must be gainfully employed with evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the court, Matepo said.
The case was later adjourned till March 13 for hearing.
