CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 31-year-old man, Badmus Monsuru, has been remanded at the Correctional Centre, Kirikiri Town, for allegedly obtaining and fraudulently converting the sum of Nine Million Naira belonging to one Adeniyi Jelili Atanda under the pretence of procuring a visa for him.
Monsuru was arraigned before the Ogba Magistrate Court presided over by Mr. I.A. Owolabi on a two-count charge of conspiracy, fraudulent conversion and obtaining money by false pretence in Charge No: 2442/9/37/2026, Commissioner of Police Vs Badmus Monsuru.
The prosecutor, SP Josephine Iykayare, told the Court that the incident happened on the 7th of June, 2026, at about 2:00 p.m. within the Lagos Magisterial District in Ogba, Lagos State.
According to the charge sheet, the defendant and one other person who is still at large allegedly conspired together and fraudulently converted the sum of Nine Million Naira belonging to the complainant, Adeniyi Jelili Atanda, which was unlawfully collected and converted to their own use.
The Police further alleged that the defendant obtained the money from the complainant on the pretence of procuring a visa for him, knowing the representation to be false.
The complainant was said to have paid the money in good faith with the expectation that the visa process would be carried out as promised, only to later discover that no visa was procured and the money had allegedly been diverted.
Following a report to the Police, detectives were said to have commenced investigation which led to the arrest of the defendant, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the other suspect who is at large.
The defendant was charged on two counts of conspiracy and fraudulent conversion punishable under Section 411 and Section 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015. Section 411 provides that any person who conspires with another to commit an offence is liable to punishment for conspiracy, while Section 280 provides that any person who fraudulently converts to his own use or to the use of any other person, property belonging to another, commits the offence of fraudulent conversion and is liable on conviction to imprisonment.
He was also charged with conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence punishable under Section 411 and Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015. Section 314 provides that any person who by any false pretence obtains from any other person anything capable of being stolen, or induces any other person to deliver to any person anything capable of being stolen, commits the offence of obtaining by false pretence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment.
When the charge was read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Magistrate L.A. Owolabi granted him bail with two sureties who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
The Magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Centre, Kirikiri Town, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The matter was adjourned for further hearing.
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a Court of competent jurisdiction.
