Driver to spend 15 months in prison for N1m fraud

A 27-year-old driver, Okechukwu Obi, was on Thursday sentenced to 15 months in prison for defrauding one Kazeem Hassan of N1 million.

Okechukwu was first arraigned before Demi Ajayi of the Yaba Magistrate’s Court on Aug. 19, 2009 on a three-count charge of conspiracy, collecting money under false pretence and stealing.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Chinedu Uwadire, had told the court that the accused, with others at large, on May 24, 2009 at the Ilasamaja Area of Lagos, conspired to obtain the money under pretence.

He alleged that Okechukwu defrauded Hassan of N1 million under the pretence that he was in the position to double the money for him, a representation he knew was false.

The prosecutor told the court that the offence contravened Sections 390(9), 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State.

Though the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges, Magistrate Ajayi sentenced him to 15 months in prison without an option of `fine.