Two suspects, Alhaji Hakeem Lawal Adebayo and Alhaja Sherifat Lawal, both of Al-Awwal Travels and Tours International Limited in Ilorin, Kwara State, were yesterday remanded in prison by a Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding one Alhaji Sanni Malu and 11 others of the sum of N35million.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Wodi, told the court that on 19 /11/ 2013, Alhaji Sanni Malu and 10 others reported at the Area Commander’s Office that the suspects allegedly collected N35 million from them with a promise to facilitate their trips to Saudi Arabia for Hajj.
They added that the suspects failed to secure visa and other necessary documents for them.
“The accused persons defrauded the complainants and travelled for Hajj. When they returned from Saudi Arabia, they refused to refund the money. They were arrested and during investigation, both confessed to the crime and pleaded to refund the money. They signed undertaking to that effect and after that, they were granted police bail. But the accused persons did not return to the police station and that led to another arrest,” the prosecutor said.
The accused persons who were arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal conspiracy and advanced fraud, offences that are contrary to Section 97 of Penal Code, pleaded not guilty but Magistrate Jibril Salihu ordered their remand at Federal Prison Yard, Oke-Kura.
