Three petroleum products dealers who allegedly obtained the sum of N58 million from a businessman under false pretences, were on Thursday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The accused: Abubakar Adamu, 40; Abubakar Aliyu, 54, and Isah Ibrahim, 34, are standing trial on a three-count charge of fraud, stealing and conspiracy.
The accused, however, denied the charge.
The Prosecutor, SP Eshiet Eshiet, had told the court that the accused committed the offences between March and April in Lagos.
Eshiet said that the accused obtained the sum of N58 million from the complainant, Virginus Erims, of Virgiman Nigeria Ltd., under the guise of supplying six trucks of 50,000 litres of petrol (PMS) to him.
He said that other products the accused promised to supply to the complainant were one truck of 50,000 litres of diesel (AGO) and one truck of 50,000 litres of kerosene (DPK).
“The accused knew that the representation was false, therefore, stole Erims’s N58 million without supplying the products which the money was meant for,” Esheit said.
According to him, the offences contravene Sections 285, 312 and 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Counsel to the accused, Casmir Okoli, urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
The Magistrate, S.K. Matepo, admitted each of the accused to bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties each in like sum.
Matepo said that the sureties must be gainfully employed and that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused.
She also said that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and must produce relevant documents.
She adjourned the case until July 10, for mention.