From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A 47-year-old man, Akinloye Ayofe, was on Wednesday remanded in the correctional center by a Magistrate court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, for alleged N7 million land racketeering.
The police prosecutor, Elisha Olusegun, alleged that the defendant and others now at large, committed the purported crime between the 24th of August and the 1st of November 2022.
He alleged that the defendant with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N7 million from one of Olanrewaju Asimiyu under the pretense of assisting him to purchase two plots of land.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the four-count charges of conspiracy, pretense, fraud, and stealing leveled against him by the police.
His counsel, Niran Ojekale, prayed the court to grant him bail pending the determination of the allegations.
The prosecutor objected to the bail, saying it may be difficult to rearrest the defendant if he jumps bail.
The presiding magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesa correctional center and adjourned the case to 30th December 2022 for a ruling on the bail application.