Abe, whose address was not provided , pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of stealing , breach of peace and obtaining money by false pretences, preferred against him.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Ajayi Emmanuel, told the court that the offences were committed on April 20, at Wonder Wear House, located at Alhaji Musa Str., Ladipo Market, Lagos.

Emmanuel said the accused collected N720, 000 from the complainant, Christian Okeke, on the pretext of getting him a container which contained goods of his choice, which he never did.

Abe, he added, later started avoiding Okeke, while all efforts to trace him failed until he was recently sighted by the complainant, who effected his arrest through the police.

The offences contravene Sections 285, 166 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes a three-year jail term for stealing, while Section 312 stipulates 15 years for fraud.

The Magistrate, Mrs E. A. Azeez, in her ruling, granted the accused bail in the sum of N250,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Azeez adjourned the case until May 23, for mention.