By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

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A 52-year-old woman, Dupe Oyenekan, has been dragged before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Osogbo, for allegedly defrauding her victims to the tune N604,000.

Oyenekan was brought to the court by men of the Osun State Police Command on two counts charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by pretense.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations slammed against her.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Adeoye Kayode, told the court that the defendant committed the offence between January 1, 2023, and February 30, 2024, at Oke Onitea area, Osogbo, the Osun state capital.

 Adeoye said the defendant fraudulently collected the sum of ₦604,000, from one Azeez Lukman, Mulikat Olasupo, and other people under the pretense that she would make them members of the Young Farmers Association, Osogbo Branch, by giving them fake forms to fill.

He added that the defendant promised to use their money to open accounts for them, obtain ATM cards, and produce membership ID cards for them, but reneged his promise, while she was supposed to hand over the sum to either the Treasurer, one Olanrewaju Rasak, or Chairman, one Oyekunle Titus, of the Young Farmers Association, Osogbo.

Adeoye said the offence committed was contrary to and punishable under Sections 419 and 385 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. II Law of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.

Defence Counsel, Kehinde Adekoya, prayed to the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal term.

The Magistrate, O.A Daramola, granted the defendant ₦500,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

She further directed that one of the sureties must be the spouse or biological child of the defendant.

She, thereafter, adjourned the case till May 31, 2024, for a hearing.