From Kayode Afolabi, Ore

An Odigbo Chief Magistrate Court has ordered the remand of a 35-year-old timber contractor, Omoniyi Adeleke, in the Okitipupa Correctional Centre over an alleged fraud.

Men of the Ondo State Police Command arraigned the defendant before Chief Magistrate D. O. Ogunfuyi, on a two-count charge bordering on fraud under false pretence

According to the prosecution, the defendant committed the offence on August 2, 2023, at about 10:00 am in Ore, Ondo State.

The prosecutor, Inspector James Usifo, told the court that the defendant and one Adeleke Sodiq at large, fraudulently obtained a cash sum of N278,000, from the complainant, one Oyetunji Olayemi, under the pretence that he would supply her 1,000 planks which he reneged.

The offence contravenes Sections 516, 419 of the Criminal Code Cap. 37, Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

When the charge was read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.

Usifo sought an adjournment to enable him study the case file and prepare his witnesses for trial.

The defence counsel, Mr V. A Akinfe did not oppose the application made by the prosecutor. But he prayed the court to grant his client bail in most liberal terms.

The prosecutor, however, opposed the application made by the defence counsel, saying the defendant would abuse the privilege if granted bail.

Chief Magistrate D. O. Ogunfuyi, in his ruling, remanded the defendant at the correctional centre and adjourned the case till April 2, 2024, for trial.