A 42-year-old underwater diver, Fakeye Kehinde Abafeni, was on Friday arraigned at an Apapa Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing N225,000 meant for the provision of 10 Yokohama outboard engines at the Kirikiri Jetty.
Abafeni is facing a three-count charge of false pretense, stealing and fraud.
The prosecutor, Inspector Feddy Asu told the court that the defendant committed the offences on January 29, 2019 at No 3 Alekotile Street, Kirikiri Jetty, Kirikiri Town, Apapa.
“The defendant, with intention to defraud, obtained the sum of N225,000 from Green Speed Ocean Line Ltd with the pretense of providing 10 Yokohama to site which he would use to salvage the dock inside the water, a representation he knew to be false,” Asu said.
The prosecutor also said that the defendant stole the sum of N225,000 from Green Speed Ocean Line Ltd.
Asu added that on November 26, 2018, the defendant converted the sum of N80,000 being the money collected to rent fender to his personal use.
According to him, the offences are punishable under sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
Magistrate M.O Olubi granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties, according to the Magistrate, must furnish the court with proof of livelihood and three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The sureties must disclose their relationship with the defendant and must be resident within Lagos.
He adjourned the case till March 25, 2019 for mention.