Man in court over N2m fraud

A 54-year-old man, Gabriel Atie, on Wednesday, appeared before a magistrates’ court in Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly obtaining a N2 million loan fraudulently from a micro finance bank. Atie is facing a four-count charge bordering on fraud, cheating and stealing. The Prosecutor, ASP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that the defendant sometime in May, 2019, […]

A 54-year-old man, Gabriel Atie, on Wednesday, appeared before a magistrates’ court in Ikeja, Lagos, for allegedly obtaining a N2 million loan fraudulently from a micro finance bank.

Atie is facing a four-count charge bordering on fraud, cheating and stealing.

The Prosecutor, ASP Kehinde Ajayi, told the court that the defendant sometime in May, 2019, fraudulently obtained a N2m loan from Fina Trust micro finance bank.

He said the defendant secured the loan from the bank located on Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, under the pretext of using it to facilitate a business.

He further told the court that, “Atie collected the loan with agreement to pay back with interest but failed to do so. All effort by the bank for the defendant to repay the loan proved abortive, because he absconded and was unreachable through phone.

“Atie was later apprehended and handed over to the police. He agreed to pay the said sum at an agreed date, but issued a dud Union Bank cheque to the MFB.”

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 168 (D), 287, 323 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, A.O. Ajibade, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to March 3, 2021. (NAN)