Accommodation seeker loses N175, 000 to estate agent

An estate agent, Sanni Arewa, who allegedly defrauded an accommodation seeker of N175,000, was on Wednesday brought before an ApapaMagistrates' Court, Lagos. Arewa, 54, a resident of Ajegunle area of Lagos, is facing a charge of obtaining money under false pretences.

According to the prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Inedu, the accused committed the offence sometime in March at Ladiga Street, Ajegunle, Lagos. Inedu said Arewa collected N175,000 from the complainant, Livinus Anyadioha,with a promise to rent a self-contained apartment to him.

He said the accused refused to give the accommodation to Anyadioha and also converted the money to personal use.

"When Anyadioha did not get any feedback from Arewa after a month, he decided to ask for a refund. The complainant said the accused refused to refund his money."

Inedu said the offences contravened Section 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section prescribes a 15-year jail term for obtaining money under false pretences.

The accused denied the charge. The Senior Magistrate, Mr Adeyemi Amos, in his ruling, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till July 16 for mention.