A 25-year-old driver, Akintunde Wale, was on Tuesday arraigned in an Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.
The charge against the accused person before Mr Sola Akintoye, was filed from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
Wale was accused of obtaining of N291, 000 from an NYSC member, Miss Callista Ogbogu Ndidi.
The offence, according to Mr Ojo Toluwatope Alex from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Akure, was committed on Jan. 26 at AP gas station on Owo Road, Akure.
Wale was said to have approached the corps member and variously obtained from her N291, 000 by false pretence.
The prosecution said the offence was contrary to and punishable under section 419 of the of the Criminal Code Cap 37, Vol. I, Laws of Ondo State 2006.
Akintunde was also alleged to have conspired with two other persons, now at large, to obtain the money from the corps member, an offence under section 516 of the of the Criminal Code, cap 37, Vol. I, Laws of Ondo State 2006.
The suspect told the court that he understood the charges when read to him in Yoruba language, elected for summary trial at the court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The representative of the attorney-general urged the court to grant a short adjournment as the complainant; Ogbogu, was not in court.
Counsel to the accused person, Mr Emeka Ogbu, prayed the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms.
Ojo, however, urged the court to direct the accused person to bring his bail application by way of a motion on notice so that he could reply on point of law.
He told the court that it took them a lot of time to arrest the accused person, adding that granting him bail might jeopardise the trial.
The magistrate, however, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N300, 000 and two sureties in like sum, who must be reliable and credible and must swear to affidavit of means.
The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a government official of not less than GL. 10, while the other must own a property within the jurisdiction of the court.
He then adjourned the matter to May 5 for hearing.
