A 45-year-old sailor, Sunday Udoh, who allegedly duped a man of N79,500 on the pretext of procuring a job for him on a ship, has appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.
Udoh, a resident of Mangoro, Agege Area of Lagos, yesterday pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge of stealing, conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretences, which was read out to him.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Unah Mike, told the court that the offences were committed sometime in June, at National Filling Station, Agage, Lagos.
Mike said the accused, with another man still at large, collected N79, 500 from the complainant, Kenneth Bernard, with a promise of getting him a job on a ship.
Udoh also forged certificates of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Cross River State, and the Maritime University, Accra, Ghana, to be used to procure the job for Bernard.
“The accused collected the money and failed to get the complainant the job as promised, and he converted the money to his personal use.”
The offences contravene Sections 287, 411, 365 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 provides 14 years imprisonment for offenders, while Section 314 stipulates 15 years for obtaining credit by false pretences.
The Magistrate, Mrs A. O. Gbajumo, in her ruling, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Gbajumo adjourned the case until Oct. 4, for mention.
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