A 40-year-old former car dealer, Lawrence Joseph, was on Friday brought before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding a customer of N750, 000.

Joseph, whose address was not provided, is facing a two-count charge of stealing and fraud.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Police Prosecutor Modupe Olaluwoye told the court that the accused committed the offences in July at Sangotedo, Lagos.

Olaluwoye said the complainant, Mr Moses Nwankwo,  gave the accused N750,000 for a Toyota Corolla, which he failed to deliver.

“The accused took the complainant to a car shop that is not his own, showed him  a Toyota Corolla, and promised to deliver it after payment.

“My Lord, the complainant paid the N750,000 by transfer to the accused but never got the car; so he made a report to the police.

“Upon investigation, it was discovered that the accused was a former car dealer who defraud unsuspecting buyers,” he said.

He noted that the offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a three-year jail term for stealing while Section 314 provides for 15 years’ imprisonment for intent to defraud.

Magistrate Oluwatoyin Oghere  granted the accused bail  in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Oghere ordered that the surety should  show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned until Sept. 26 (NAN)

– Aug. 31, 2018 @ 15:15 GMT |