The accused, Adeaga Waheed, 37; Abbe Suara, 24; Ajibade Yusuf 25; and a 50-year-old Muraina Olajide all of Lagun village, Ibadan, Oyo State, allegedly hoodwink their victim to believe that they would assist him to change the sum of N50 million to Dollars.

Police said that the accused, allegedly conspired with seven others, including two females: Akinkunmi Taiwo and Akinwumi Taiwo and Akinkunmi Comfort, both of Olorunshogo Area, Ilorin, now at large to defraud the man of the said money.

When the matter came up for mention, the accused pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

The court which was presided over by Chief Magistrate Nureni Kuranga remanded the accused at Federal Medium Security Prison, Mandala, Ilorin, until June 7.

Police from Ilorin went for the accused following a petition letter to the office of the Area Commander, Nigeria Police, Ilorin Metropolis by one Alex Akorede of Kilometre 5, Old Jebba Road, Ilorin, that the accused and others at large duped him.

According to the complainant, they deceitfully obtained a sum of N50 million from him under the pretext that they were Burea de Change agents and that they would change the money to Dollars for him.

He complained further that the accused also craftily acted as Ooni of Ife, Oba of Benin, Alake of Egbaland, Soun of Ogbomosho, Orangun of Ila, Owa of Ilesa and one yet unknown Oba, while each of them had uniformed police officers as their orderlies.

He alleged further that all efforts made by him to recover his money proved abortive. The complainant also said that the accused also threatened to kill him if he ever disclosed the issue to anyone.

Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter stated that in the course of investigation, a huge amount of fake Dollars and Pound Starlings were recovered from the accused.

The accused were brought before the court on a seven-count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal charm, criminal, breach of trust, cheating, impersonation, criminal intimidation and advanced fee fraud.

The prosecutor, Sergeant Mathew Ologbonsaye, who informed the court that investigation into the case was yet to be completed, objected to the bail of the accused and urged the court to remand them at the prison custody, Ilorin, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The prosecutor submitted further that the alleged offences are not ordinarily bailable and that if the accused were admitted to bail at this stage of the proceeding they might jump bail having known the gravity of the offences.

The defence counsel, Barrister S.I. Abaya, prayed the court to release the accused on bail pending the determination of the case against them. He submitted further that the accused would not run away and would attend their trial if admitted to bail.

Ruling, Chief Magistrate Nureni Kuranga said that it was premature at this stage to grant bail to the accused, rather the accused should make a formal application for bail.

Consequently, the court refused the oral application for the bail of the accused and equally ordered that the accused be remanded at the Federal Medium Security Prison, Mandala, Ilorin, until the next adjourned date

By bayo Ayanda (The Herald)