Fake importer jailed 3 years for defrauding businesswoman

A 38-year-old Festus Ajaere, who posed as an importer and defrauded a stove seller of N10 million on the pretext of importing and supplying her stoves, is to spend the next 36 months in Kirikiri Prisons, Lagos.

A Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court which gave the verdict on Thursday, did not grant the convict an option of fine.

The convict had earlier pleaded guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Kikelomo Ayeye, ruled: “You are hereby sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour without an option of fine.”

She warned those in the habit of defrauding innocent citizens to desist and find decent jobs to do.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Inspector Nurudeen Thomas told the court that the accused had sometime in February 2012 at Evans Street, Lagos Island, obtained the money under false pretences.

“Ajaere, who said he was an importer with others still at large, defrauded a kerosene stove and lantern seller (names withheld) of N10 million under the pretext of supplying her stoves,” he told the court.

The offences contravened Sections 312 (1) (a) (b) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.



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