A 30-year-old clearing agent, Celestine Pius, was on Thursday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding Zeek Group of Companies of N900,000 under pretence.
Pius is facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, false pretence and stealing.
The prosecutor, Inspector Edet Ekpo, told the court that defendant committed the offences on June 6, 2018 at No 25, Rhodes Crescent, Apapa.
“The defendant conspired with others at large to fraudulently obtain the sum of N900,000 from Zeek Group of Companies on the pretext that he would help the company to arrange for a vessel. A representation he knew to be false,” Ekpo said.
The prosecutor added that the defendant stole the sum of N900,000 belonging to Zeek Group of Companies.
According to him, the offences are punishable under sections 411, 314(i)(a) and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him.
Magistrate Nurudeen Layeni granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, according to the Magistrate, must be furnish the court with evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
He adjourned the matter till September 24, 2018 for mention.