Herbalist docked over N1.5m fraud

The police in Abuja yesterday arraigned a 34-year-old herbalist before an Abuja Magistrate Court for allegedly collecting N1.5 million from one Aderemi Agboola under the pretence of assisting him to have a child.

Ifayemi Akomolafe of Apo village was said to have conspired with one Lawal now at large to commit the crime on March 15 and was charged with joint acts and cheating.

Police prosecutor, Inspector Jeremiah Elijah, informed the court that on March 22, the complainant reported at Lugbe Police station that the accused and his accomplice dishonestly defrauded him of N1.5 million.

‘’The accused and his accomplice now at large pretended to be herbalists and defrauded the complainant of the said amount after promising to assist him to have a child,’’ he said.

He said during police investigation, the accused confessed to have collected N750,000 from the complainant, adding that his action contravened Sections 79 and 322 of the Penal Code.

When the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty and requested for bail, which was opposed by the prosecutor.

Magistrate Khadijat Mustapha granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sums.

The magistrate ruled that the two sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and that they must deposit their water bills with the court so that their residential addresses can be known to the court.

The case was adjourned to May 25 for hearing.