House agent arrested for defrauding 214 persons

A house agent, Mr. Hakeem Olanrewaju, 44, has been arraigned before court 1, Yaba Magistrate's Court on 429 counts by the State Criminal Investigation Department, for allegedly defrauding 214 accommodation seekers.

The complainants had approached Olanrewaju to assist with their accommodation needs.

The charge sheet, which numbered over 100 pages revealed that Olanrewaju had collected sums ranging from N1.5m to N350, 000 from each of the complainants within nine months.

It reads in part, "That you, Hakeem Olanrewaju, m, and others at large between the month of August 2012 to April 2013 at 12 Daniel Makinde Street, Ketu in Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: obtaining money under false pretences and stealing, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011"

Olanrewaju pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His defence counsel prayed the court to grant him bail under liberal terms.

The magistrate, Mr. P.A Ojo agreed to admit the defendant on bail upon the payment of N500,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
The case was adjourned till June 19.