From Francis Akinnodi, Ore
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A 33-year-old man, Okoronkwo Nwoshiri Ugochukwu, and John Eze, 23, have been arraigned before an Odigbo Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State for alleged fraud estimated at N3,095,000.

The defendants were arraigned by the police on nine counts bordering on obtaining money and goods under false pretences, including stealing.

The police prosecutor, Sgt. Muyideen Yekini said Ugochukwu and Eze connived with two others at large to collect the sum from eight different persons under false pretence at Ore Magisterial district.

The Hope Metro gathered that the accused persons obtained twelve bags of beans worth N385,000 from one Jubrin Mohammed; while they obtained N1,215,000 from Collectors Association Daily Contributions.

In addition, the accused were also alleged of  obtaining N240,000 from Ola-Oluwa Daily Contributions, Ore, including  100 crates of eggs worth N100,000 from one Sunday Oyinloye.

They were said to have obtained large quantity of rice and beans worth N44,000 from one Benjamin Onu.

Other victims are Matthew Kayode, Yetunde Suleimen and Comfort Adeyeye, whom  the accused were said to have  allegedly defrauded of N557,000, 20 bags of rice valued at N340,000, 5 kegs of 25littres of vegetable oil wortb N60,000 total N400,000, including 12 bags of garri valued at N77,500, one bag of red garri valued at N10,500, six bags of pupuru valued at N66,000, total  N154,000 respectively.

The prosecution said the accused allegedly collected the money and goods fraudulently from the complainants between April and October 2018 at different locations in Ore town.

According to the Police prosecutor,  the nine counts against the accused contravened Section 516(A)(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Magistrate, Mr T.J. Ajayi granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 each,  with two sureties in like sum.

He said the sureties must show evidence of two years tax payment to the Ondo State Government.

 The case was adjourned till December 12, 2018.