Estate agents allegedly defraud 70 accommodation seekers N16.6m

Seven estate agents were charged by Lagos police on Friday for allegedly using false pretences to obtain N16.6 million from 70 accommodation seekers

Alhaji Lukan Atanda (age 60), Lukman Katibi (age 42), Rotimi Ige (age 59), Samuel Adeniji (age 49), Thomas Ajayi (age 49), Abayomi Olusegun (age 42), and Hamzat Saheed (age 42) are the defendants.

They all appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court and reside in Egbeda, Lagos State.

The first defendant, Atanda, develops real estate, and the other defendants are real estate brokers.

They have entered a not guilty plea despite being charged with conspiracy, stealing, and obtaining money through deception.

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Insp Innocent Odugbo’s prosecutor told the court that the defendants committed the offences from November 2022 to July 2023 at No. 4, Bishop St., Egbeda, Lagos.

Odugbo said that the defendants obtained N16.6 million from 70 different accommodation seekers on the pretext of renting a mini flat for them.

Odugbo said that the defendants did not secure any accommodation for any of the alleged victims and did not return their money.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 287, 312, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Magistrate, Mrs M. F. Onamusi, granted each of the defendants bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.

Onamusi adjourned the case until Nov. 8 for mention. (NAN)

Source: tribuneonlineng