An Osun State Magistrate Court sitting in Osogbo, has remanded a 45-year-old car dealer, Akanbi Babatunde in prison for allegedly defrauding car buyers to the tune of N13.3 million.
The accused person was said to have obtained the sum from his victims with a promise of selling cars to them but failed and converted the N13.3 million to his own use.
The defendant was arraigned before court on six count-charge of fraud and theft allegedly committed between the month of March and August 2022 at Osogbo, Osun State.
The Police prosecutor, Inspector Elisha Olusegun accused the defendant of obtaining the sum of N4M from one Ogungbemi Oluwafemi under the pretence of assisting him to purchase a Toyota Camry car, 2011 model.
Inspector Elisha said the accused also falsely obtained the sum of N5.5M and a venza car worth N4M from one Ademola Musliyu under the pretense of helping him to sell the car.
He further alleged that the defendant stole the sum of N300,000 from one Folarin Adekunle which makes the total of the alleged amount N13.3 million.
According to the charge sheet obtained in court by our correspondent on Wednesday, the alleged offences contravened Section 383, 390(9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegations slammed against him.
Defence Counsel, K.S Abioye then urged the court to grant his defendant bail in the most liberal term, noting that he would be available to face his trail.
However, the prosecution Counsel objected his oral bail application
stating that the defendant might jump bail because it took the police some effort before the accused could be apprehended using one of the victim as bait.
He added that the defendant had defrauded three other victims who had forgone the issue with him.
Meanwhile, Abioye further argued that prosecution counsel is acting on speculations and told the court to discountenance the objectives of the police conjecture and admit bail to his defendant.
The presiding Magistrate, Olusegun Ayilara, however, ordered the defendant to be remanded in Ilesa correctional center just he adjourned the case till August 24, 2022 for ruling on his bail application.