A 25-year-old student, Blessing Akingbade, on Friday appeared before an Okitipupa Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State over alleged N750,000 accommodation scam.
The defendant, of no fixed address, is facing a two-count charge of advance fee fraud and stealing.
The Police prosecutor, ASP Zedekiah Orogbemi, informed the court that the defendant committed the offences on Aug. 5, 2023 at 11:00 am, at Oke Iloro in Okitipupa, Okitipupa magisterial district.
According to him, the defendant allegedly fraudulently received N750,000 from one Mrs Odunayo Akinbolade on the pretext of assisting the latter secure an apartment for her daughter, also a student, in Okitipupa.
The prosecutor noted that that the defendant made the misrepresentation knowing same to be false and later converted the money collected to her own use.
He said that the defendant committed the offences, which contravened and was punishable under sections 419 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against her.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Cletus Ojuola, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 and a surety in like sum.
He added that the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and must show and present evidences of two years tax payment made to the state government.
The case was adjourned until Jan.18, for further hearing.
