Businessman charged with defrauding would-be pilgrims of N1.5m

A businessman, Jimoh Abdulashid, charged with defrauding would-be pilgrims of N1.5 million, was on Wednesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates' Court.

Abdulashid, 39, a resident of No. 24, Showunmi St., Mushin, Lagos, is being tried for fraud and stealing.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 2013 at Agege, Lagos.

He said the accused allegedly obtained N1.5 million from the complainant, Mr Abdul Malik, with a promise to process travelling documents for his sisters to travel to Saudi Arabia for this year’s pilgrimage.

"The accused collected the money from the complainant under the pretext of helping him to process visa and ticket for his two sisters to travel to the Holy Land.

"He did not process the document and converted the money to personal use.’’

The offences, Olatunde said, contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.Section 312 prescribes a 15- year jail term as penalty for offenders.

The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

In his ruling, the Magistrate, Aka Bashorun, adjourned the case to Sept. 15 for mention.