One prince Ayinde Oniru, a 24-year-old man and Adekunle Usman were arraigned before a Lagos chief magistrate’s court, sitting at Ebute Metta, for allegedly stealing from two women under the pretence of importing and delivering some goods to a Lagos Oba, His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi.
The accused are facing an eight-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and impersonation.
The prosecutor, Feddy Asu, told the court that the self-acclaimed prince, his co-accused and his other accomplices, who are at large, had sometime in September 2013, in Surulere area of the state conspired to fraudulently obtain N470,000 from one Adeola Babatunde on the pretence that they would assist her to import some goods from abroad, which they failed to do.
He said the defendants fraudulently obtained some goods worth N3.5 million between March and May from one Princess Adeleke with the pretext that the goods would be delivered to a Lagos monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi.
Asu also stated that the items that were collected from the victims included some note books, one i-phone 5, one i-pad tablet, assorted wrist watc hes, gold jewellery and cash sum of N250,000.
The duo were also said to have obtained N500,000 from one Jelli Elias with a promise that they would help him to buy a landed property at Lekki.
The prosecutor further informed the court that Oniru, falsely represented himself to a Diamond Bank branch as one Adeniyi Elegushi.
According to the prosecutor, the offences, committed, is contrary to sections 409, 311 (1) (a) and punishable under section 285 (1) and 378 (1) of the criminal laws of Lagos state of Nigeria 2011.
Section 285, prescribes 14 years imprisonment for any offender.
Earlier the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
However Magistrate F.I Adefioye, admitted the defendants onr bail, in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the matter till August 4, for mention.
Source: vanguard
