A 55-year old trader, Olusola Aminu, is answering questions before an Ogudu magistrate’s court, Lagos, for allegedly collecting goods valued over N1.2 million from three traders under false pretences.
Aminu, who resides in Omigo Quarters, Isiwu, Ikorodu Road, was arrested after she allegedly refused to pay for the goods she collected.
The Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Sergeant Lucky Ihiehie, said efforts by the owners of the goods to retrieve them from the accused were rebuffed by her, adding that investigation conducted so far revealed that the suspect had diverted the proceeds made from the sale of the items without the knowledge of the owners.
Ihiehie said that the complainants, three of them, were compelled to report the matter to the police after their efforts were frustrated by the suspect.
At the conclusion of investigation, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, ordered that the suspect be charged to court.
Armed with the CP’s directive, the woman was dragged to court on a three-count charge of obtaining goods under false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused committed the offences on January 8, 2017 at the Mile 12 Market, Lagos.
He said that the complainants – Roseline Oyedogba, Ganiyat Olanrewaju and Sunday Ogbonna – all traders at the Mile 12 Market, reported the incident at the Mile 12 police station.
Ihiehie said, “On January 8, the accused came to the shops and obtained 78 kegs of vegetable oil and palm oil collectively valued at N1,276,700. Olusola said she would return the money the next day after sales, but since then she has refused to pay.
“When the complainants eventually went to her shop, they discovered that she had sold all the kegs of oil. The accused, in a bid to cause a breach of peace and deceive the complainants, filled the kegs with water, claiming she had not sold the kegs of oil.”
He said that the accused owed Mrs Oyedogba the sum of N454,700; Mrs Olanrewaju N322,000 and Mr Ogbonna N500, 000.
The accused, however, pleaded guilty to the charges filed against her.
The magistrate, Mrs O.S. Amzat, admitted the accused to bail of N200,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
The case has been adjourned until November 6, 2017 for mention.
