A 60-year-old politician, Folaji Onikoyi, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Somolu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly obtaining money under pretences from two persons.
The accused, who is facing a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
The prosecutor, ASP Akinlebi Adegoke, had told the court that Onikoyi collected N670,000 from one Mr Opayemi Rotimi and one Mr Owolabi Ajibade, under pretext of securing jobs for them.
He said the accused, who resided at No. 6, Mowowale St., Ilaje in Bariga, Lagos, committed the offence sometime in August, 2011 at No. 18 Olorunkemi St., Bariga, Lagos.
“The accused obtained the sum of N670,000 from the complainants with false pretences that the former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, would offer them jobs.
“Onikoyi promised the complainants that he would use the money to negotiate with Tinubu to offer Rotimi a supervisory councillorship slot in the Lagos Island Local Government and Secretary to the Council Chairman.
“The accused also assured Ajibade that the former governor would offer him a manager slot at the Lagos State Water Corporation,’’ Adegoke said.
He said that the offences contravened Sections 312 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
She adjourned the case till Aug. 17 for trial.
