Police arraign 5 brothers over N91.5m land fraud

City Voice Published: September 25, 2014

The police on Wednesday arraigned five brothers in an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with N91.5 million land fraud.

The brothers are Nojimu Alonge; 65, Mohammed Alonge; 60, Tawakalitu Alonge; 65, Dalili Alonge; 54 and Bariu Alonge; 54, facing charges of conspiracy, obtaining money on false pretext, stealing and forceful entry.

The prosecutor, Insp. Daniel Akpochi, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in 2011 at No. 1, Stone House, Oko-Ado, Ajah, Lekki Expressway, Lagos.

He said the brothers induced one Chief Stephen Ajose to part with N91.5 million on false pretext as they made him to believe that they would assist him to secure 125 acres of land at Oreki village, on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

Akpochi said that the accused never fulfilled their business obligations to Ajose and all efforts by the complainant to recover his money proved unsuccessful.

The offences contravened the provisions of sections 52, 285(a)(b)(c), 312(b) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 312 prescribes 15 years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of obtaining something on false pretext.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Adedayo, granted bail to the brothers in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case to Oct. 27 for mention.