Farmer charged over fraud
By Sade Adewale
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A 32-year-old man cocoa farmer, Collinus Olagoke, has been dragged before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town, for allegedly obtaining the sum of N400,000 from a trader, under false pretence of supplying him cocoa beans.
The police brought Olagoke before the court on Tuesday for collecting the sum from one Mr Ariyo with a promise to supply him cocoa beans, but did not fulfil his promise.
Olagoke is now facing a two- count charge bothering on pretence and manner likely to cause the breach of peace.
The accused was said to have committed the offence on October 20, 2018, contrary to and punishable under Sections 419 and 249(D)of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.
The charge sheet read in part,”That you, Collinus Olagoke, on October 20, 2018 at road 5, No. 9, Funbi Fagun, Ondo, in the Ondo Magisterial district, did obtained the sum of N400,000 from one Ariyo Oluwashola with the pretence of supplying him cocoa beans which you fail to do so and 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.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The police prosecutor, Mr Charles Olagbayi, who told the court that he would be calling two witnesses to testify in the case, applied for a date to enable him study the case file.
Lawyer for the accused, Barrister Henry Akingbesote, applied for the bail of the accused in most liberal terms.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Odenusi Fadeyi granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She said the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction, while they must show evidence of payment of tax for the current year.
She adjourned the case till December 13, 2018 for trial.