Three men were charged with alleged N7.8 million fraud on Friday appeared before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan.
The defendants– Badmus Akeem, 30, Qawla Kawkabdeen, 25, and Qawla Kalilylahu, 35, of an undisclosed address, are being tried on charges bordering on conspiracy, fraud and stealing.
The Prosecutor, Cpl. Akeem Akinloye told the court that the defendants allegedly conspired together with others now at large to commit the fraud.
Akinloye alleged that on February 22, 2025, within the Ibadan metropolis, the defendants allegedly obtained N7, 080, 000 from Johnson Kayode under the false pretence of selling him 800 bags of cement.
He added that the defendants knew they were not the rightful owners of the cement.
Akinloye further alleged that the defendants misappropriated the money collected from Kayode, thereby committing theft. He said the offence contravened sections 390 (9), 419, and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Oyo State 2000.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N2.5 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be a property owner while the second surety must be a blood relative.
She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till May 8, 2025, for hearing.