A herb seller, Bonny Imoisili has been dragged before an Ondo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town for allegedly defrauding a trader of the sum of N378,000 in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.
The accused was alleged to have committed the offence on October 1, 2021, at about 2 pm at UBA bank Yaba, by collecting the money from one Sola Kokumo and pretending to be one of his customers.
According to the Police prosecutor, Supol Iyabo Omolara, who explained that the offences were contrary to Sections 390 (9), 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol.1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006, while the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Explaining how he was defrauded, the complainant told the court that Imoisili came to his shop to advertise herbs while he was on a phone conversation with one of his customers.
He, however, said, “I was busy talking to my customers on phone and I didn’t know that he was eavesdropping to the phone conversation in which I dictated my phone number to my customer. My customers in the village can only call me because of the network over there.
“The defendant called me in the night and said he was the one that sold palm oil to me and promised to send account details as discussed.
“Later, he sent the account details and I forwarded the money to him. The following day, the original customer called and said he would send his account details to me and I was surprised when he told me that he never forwarded his account to me, while I have paid into the said account.
“My customer denied sending any account details to me and immediately, I went to the Enu- Owa police station to report, after which the defendant was arrested.”
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs Toyin Olowookere, however, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N300,000 with one surety in like sum while the case was adjourned to April 12, 2022, for commencement of trial.
Credit: tribuneonlineng.com
