Court orders detention of 63-yr-old man for defrauding US returnee

An Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court has ordered the detention of a 63-year-old man identified as Taiye Ogbonyomi for defrauding a US returnee.

Taiye was arraigned in two separate charges by the police for defrauding his victim identified as James Okolo, a United States-based Nigerian businessman of the sum of N33.8 million after reportedly failing to supply him Bony Light Crude Oil.

The suspect who was arrested by men of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, was alleged to have also defrauded one Dr Godknows Itamunoala of the sum of N1.8m in a similar deal in June 2018.

While in court, the charges against Taiye read thus; “That you, Ogbonyomi Taiye, and others at large, on February 12, 2018 on Ariyo Street, Ejigbo area of Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District , with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N33.8m from one James Okolo of C & T Majesty Global Trading Co. Limited under the pretext of supplying Bony Light Crude Oil to him, a representation you knew to be false….”

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The second charge against Taiye also reads thus; “That you, Ogbonyomi Taiye, and others at large, on June 21, 2018, at Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N1.8m from one Dr Godknows Itamunoala, under the pretext of supplying Bony Light Crude Oil to him.”

According to Cyril Ejiofor, the police prosecutor, the offences committed by Taiye were punishable under sections 411, 314 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

Before adjourning the case till September 17, 2018, the magistrate, A.O. Komolafe, admitted Taiye to bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum on the first charge, and N100,000 with two sureties in like sum on the second charge.

 

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