A 37-year-old cobbler, Tanko Audu, who pleaded guilty to obtaining money under the pretext to supply rice worth N5,200 was on Wednesday in Lagos remanded at the Kirikiri Prisons, Apapa by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The Magistrate, Mrs Y.O Ekogbulu, who gave the ruling, said the accused should be kept behind bars, pending sentence.

Audu, a resident of Taiwo Dada Street, Agege, Lagos, is being tried for obtaining money under false pretences and stealing.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Clement Okuoimose, the accused committed the offences on July 6 at Adeniji Jones, Ikeja, Lagos.

He said that the accused stole N5,200 property of Mrs Beatrice Mencer.

Okuoimose said that the accused approached the complainant under the pretence of selling rice.

“The accused deceived the complainant that he sells rice and begged her to patronise him.

“He told her that the bags of rice were inside a vehicle in the next street, and he collected the money and asked that she should follow him to get the rice.

“The complainant called a tricycle driver, who is her customer, to follow the accused to bring the rice.

“The tricyclist came back a few minutes later to inform the complainant that on their way, the accused asked him to stop, that he wanted to urinate, and that when he stopped his tricycle, the accused came down and took to his heels.

“The complainant sighted him a few days after and she called the police,’’ he said.

The offences contravened Sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised).

Section 314 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences.

The case was adjourned until July 14, for sentence.

Source: The Nation