Justice

Chijioke Emmanuel, clearing agent, fraud, A clearing agent, Chijioke Emmanuel, who allegedly obtained N2 million from a businessman, under the guise of clearing containers for him, was on Tuesday docked in Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Emmanuel, 40, whose residential address was not given, is standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Jimoh Joseph, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offences on April 9, 2018, at Apapa, Lagos.

Joseph said that the defendant and others still at large, fraudulently obtained N2 million from the complainant, Mr Williams Obiwulu, under the pretext of helping him to clear his goods from the Nigeria Customs’ Office, Ikeja.

Joseph said that the defendant collected the money, but did not clear the goods and did not return the money either.

He said that the offences contravened sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however, denied the charges.

The Magistrate, Miss M. O. Onamusi, granted the defendant a bail of N300, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Onamusi said that one of the sureties should be a blood relation of the defendant, adding that the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

She further ordered that the sureties’ identities be verified by the prosecutor, and adjourned the case until March 13, for mention.