A 46-year-old caterer, Lucia Ogundipe, who allegedly obtained N100, 000 on the pretext of providing catering service at a birthday party, was on Wednesday charged before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
Ogundipe, whose address is unknown, entered a ‘not-guilty’ plea to a two-count charge of obtaining under false pretences and stealing.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Ibijoke Akinpelu, told the court that Ogundipe committed the offences on May 2, at No 15, Tokunbo St., Alagomeji, Yaba, Lagos.
She said that the accused had promised the complainant, one Fidelis Ilok, a good catering service at his daughter’s birthday party.
Akinpelu alleged that after receiving the money from Ilok, Ogundipe failed to provide the service she promised and had constantly come up with excuses to delay re-payment.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 285 (1) and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 312 prescribes a 15-year jail term for obtaining by false pretences, while Section 285 prescribes three years for stealing.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.K. Dosunmu, granted the accused bail in the sum of N30, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until July 18 for mention.