A 35-year-old agent, Chinweike Mbaewe, on Monday appeared before an Ojo Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State, for allegedly obtaining N5.5 million in the guise of clearing a container of goods.
The defendant is charged with obtaining money under false pretences, stealing, causing a breach of peace and issuing of dud cheque.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Dr Simon Uche, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in April on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
He alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained N5.5 million from one Mr Ugochukwu Ozurumba under false pretences of helping him to clear a 40ft container of goods.
According to the prosecutor, the representation is false, as the defendant stole the said sum and caused a breach of peace by making the container incur N2.8 million demurrage.
Also, the defendant is alleged to have issued to the complainant, a United Bank for Africa cheque dated August 15, for the sum of N1.68 million.
He also allegedly issued to the defendant, another cheque dated September 9 for the sum of five million Naira.
Both cheques were dishonoured on presentation to the bank, according to the prosecutor.
The alleged offences contravene the provisions of Sections 168, 287, 314 and 315 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The magistrate, Me J. L. Layeni granted the defendant bail in the sum of one million Naira with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the case until November 23 for trial.
