An Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Thursday remanded a couple in prison custody for allegedly impersonating former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to commit fraud.
Abioye Junaid, 41, and his wife, Fausat Junaid, 39 were also accused of impersonating the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo and defrauding two persons of N85 million.
They were arraigned before Mrs A. O. Sholadoye on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, stealing and impersonation.
Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Charles Odii told the court that the couple and others who are still at large conspired to commit the alleged offences sometime between October 2014 and December 2015.
He said the incident took place at the couple’s residence, No. 7 Ayeola Street, Oke Balogun in Epe, Lagos State.
Odii said Junaid was a security agent with Eco Electricity Company at Sangotedo Epe, while his wife was a civil servant with the Epe Local Government.
“The defendant falsely presented themselves as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria,’’ Odii said.
He alleged that they obtained the sum of N15 million from one Ambali Abiodun, under pretext of making him a commissioner in the Lagos State Government.
The duo, he added, also obtained the sum of N70 million from one Otuniyi Adeniyi, under pretext of making him the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a representation they knew was false.
He said they stole the money from their victims.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 285 (5), 312 (2), 378 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendants denied the charge and their counsel, Mr Emmanuel Bayen, urged the court to admit them to bail on liberal terms.
Magistrate Sholadoye granted them N2 million bail each with two sureties each in the like sum.
One of the sureties must be a level 16 officer or above in the Lagos State Civil Service, while the other must be a landed property owner whose Certificate of Ownership must be verified at the Lagos State Land Registry.
The court remanded the defendants in prison untill they meet the bail conditions and adjourned till August 26 for mention. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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