By Sade Adewale

A 63-year-old man, Matthew Idoko, has been brought before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo Town for allegedly obtaining the sum of N7,000,000 from Fawehinmi Ifedayo under the pretext of securing a job for him in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which he failed to do.

The police arraigned Idoko in court on Tuesday for fraudulently obtaining the sum from the complainant.

Idoko is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretences, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

The defendant was alleged to have committed the offence with others, who are still at large, sometime in 2023. The offence contravenes Section 383 and is punishable under Sections 516, 390(9), 249(D), and 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The charge sheet read in part: “That you, Matthew Idoko, and others at large, sometime in the year 2023, in Ondo, within the Ondo Magisterial District, conspired together to commit a felony, to wit: obtaining money under false pretences and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Matthew Idoko, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of N7,000,000 from one Fawehinmi Ifedayo under the pretence that you would secure a job for him at your office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which you failed to do, and converted the money to your own use. You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Matthew Idoko, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did convert the sum of N7,000,000, the property of one Fawehinmi Ifedayo, to your own use, for the purpose of securing a job you knew could not be provided. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

“That you, Matthew Idoko, and others at large, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, conducted yourselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by collecting the sum of N7,000,000 and refusing to refund it despite repeated demands. You thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249(D) of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The police prosecutor, Supol Bernard Olagbayi, informed the court that he would call three witnesses to testify in the case and requested an adjournment to enable him to study the case file.

The defence counsel, Rev. Oshodi, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that the defendant would not abscond and would provide credible sureties.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Omofolarin O.A., granted the defendant bail in the sum of N4,000,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She stated that the sureties must be blood relations and residents within the court’s jurisdiction and must provide evidence of tax payment for the current year.

The case was adjourned till December 5, 2024 for trial.