Two criminal suspects, Tope Fagun, 39 and Rotimi Akinade, 29, have been arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate Court, Lagos, for defrauding the Governor of Adamawa State, Muritala Nyako.
They were docked on a six-count charge of felony to wit, stealing.
Tope and his accomplice were arrested by the operatives of International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, at the Nigerian Police Force, Force CID, Alagbon Close, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding the Governor to the tune of N7.7 million.
Tope, allegedly posed as Major General Emmanuel Abisoye (rtd) and obtained the sum of $50,000 from the Governor under false pretence that he was admitted in a London hospital.
According to the police prosecutor, DSP Raymond Odion Akhaine, Tope had sometime in 2011 phoned the Governor and introduced himself as Major General Emmanuel Abisoye (retd.), claiming that he needed his help financially to offset his hospital bill at Queen Elizabeth Hospital London.
The prosecutor said Tope said he was receiving treatment for undisclosed ailment, a claim he knew to be false.
He further told the court that believing that the caller was actually Major General Emmanuel Abisoye, the Governor sent the sum of $35,000 equivalent to N5m and $15,000 equivalent to N2.7m to the fake Major General.
However, luck ran out on the suspect when he allegedly phoned and also identified himself as Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Abisoye to an un-named national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP over the same health problem.
The prosecutor added that when the PDP stalwart phoned Major General Emmanuel Abisoye to confirm the true state of his health, the general said that he was hale and hearty and was never sick nor admitted in any hospital and as such could not have been demanding money to offset any hospital bill.
Consequently, Major General Abisoye reported the matter to the police which led to the arrest of the two accused persons after several months of manhunt.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened section 409, 312(3), 285 and 378 of criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Although Tope had allegedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, he pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in court.
The presiding magistrate admitted them to bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties each in the like sum with proof of tax payment to the Lagos state government.
They are, however, to remain in Ikoyi Prisons, Lagos pending when they would fulfill their bail condition.
The magistrate adjourned the matter till 24 July, 2013 for mention.[button color=”eg. black, blue, green, grey, orange, red” link=””]Text here[/button]
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