The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Estate agent

  • Estate agent jailed 1,230 years for N28m scam

    A Lagos High Court yesterday sentenced a self-style “site engineer” and estate agent, Babatunde Habeeb, to 1,230 years imprisonment for a N28 million housing scam.

    Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye convicted Habeeb, also known as Babatunde Salaudeen, of 82-counts of conspiracy and obtaining the cash by false pretence from 101 accommodation seekers.

    The judge sentenced Habeeb to 15 years imprisonment for conspiracy and 15 years on each of the 81 counts of obtaining under false pretence.

    The sentences, totalling 1,230 years, will run concurrently, meaning Habeeb will spend 15 years in jail.

    Each sentence, which was without a fine option, will start running from March 12, 2015, when he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The court held that Habeeb conspired with his older brother, Alhaji Ishola Salaudeen, and obtained the cash under the pretext of renting out 13 apartments to the complainants.

    The 13 apartments are in a building at 59, Oriola Street, Alapere-Ketu, Lagos, owned by Alhaji Salaudeen.

    Justice Ipaye also ordered that a one-storey block of flats be forfeited to the Federal Government.

    The judge directed that the building be sold and the proceeds shared among the complainants.

    According to her, this would send a strong signal to would-be property fraudsters.

    The judgment sparked jubilation among the complainants, who danced and sang outside the courtroom.

    The siblings were arraigned and granted bail by an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court in 2013 but Alhaji Salaudeen jumped bail.

    Alhaji Salaudeen is  facing a similar charge before Justice Lateef Lawal-Akapo of an Ikeja High Court.

    Habeeb was  re-arraigned on December 16, 2015 before Justice Ipaye on an 82-count charge.

    He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

    But during the trial, he admitted receiving the cash in tranches of N500,000, N450,000, among others.

    The convict, who was arrested at a construction site in Mushin where he was working as a bricklayer after he absconded, testified that he was warned by his elder brother not to tell the victims that the 13 apartments had already been given out.

    Habeeb, however, explained that he was merely working for his brother. He declined knowledge of a ploy to dupe prospective tenants.

    But in her judgment, the judge said his denial of the offences was inconsistent with the weight of evidence tendered by the EFCC.

    On the count of conspiracy, the court observed that the seven prosecution witnesses’ testimonies  identified Habeeb and Alhaji Salaudeen as partners in crime.

    Justice Ipaye held: “The defendant was the point-man in the scam. I am therefore satisfied that the defendant and his brother acted together in the scam.

    The judge noted,  among others,  that Habeeb’s number was the only one displayed on a billboard mounted in front of the house, advertising the then uncompleted building as vacant.

    She observed that although there were only 13 apartments in the building, Habeeb obtained money from more than 101 prospective tenants.

    Justice Ipaye held: “I am persuaded by the overwhelming evidence before the court, which has not been discredited…and which I verily believe persuaded the complainants to part with their hard-earned cash totalling N28m.

    “The prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt, counts two to 82 of the charge.

    “I find you Babatunde Habeeb, also known as Babatunde Salaudeen, guilty…of obtaining money by false pretence.”

    Before her judgment, the judge considered an allocutus from the defendant, who pleaded for leniency  as he had, among others,  learnt his lessons in prison custody.

     

  • Estate agent faces N270,000 fraud charge

    A self-acclaimed estate agent, Okolin Nma, yesterday, appeared at an Apapa Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly defrauding Morry Anakwe, a prospective tenant, of N270,000.

    Nma, 36, a resident of Okito Street, Ajegunle, Lagos, is standing trial on a two-count charge of obtaining under false pretence and stealing, to which he pleaded not guilty.

    The police prosecutor, Olusegun Kokoye, told the court that the accused committed the offences on August 22 at his home.

    He alleged that the accused obtained N270,000 from the complainant, on the pretext of providing her two-room accommodation in a building he was managing.

    “Nma converted the money to his personal use and started avoiding the complainant.

    “The complainant said the accused did not give her any apartment and when she demanded her money, he refused to refund it.

    “When Anakwe realised that the accused was trying to cheat her, she reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested,” the prosecutor said.

    He said the offences contravened sections 287 and 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The Senior Magistrate, Mr. M.A. Etti, granted the accused bail at N200,000, with two sureties.

    The case was adjourned till October 19 for mention.

     

  • Estate agent jailed 16 months

    A Karmo Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja yesterday sentenced Husseini Narumfa, an estate agent, to 16 months’ imprisonment for absconding with a would-be tenant’s N800,000.

    The complainant, Prince Sunday, in July, paid the money into the convict’s account as rent.

    Judge Mr. Abubakar Sadiq convicted Narumfa, who admitted committing the offences.

    Narumfa, a resident of Utako in the FCT, was sentenced on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

    The judge, however, gave the convict an option of paying N20,000 fine, and warned him to view the reprieve as a second chance to become a better citizen.

    He ordered the convict to give the N800,000 back to the complainant, saying returning the money was a condition to regain freedom.

    Mrs. Florence Auhioboh, the prosecutor, told the court Sunday, of 20, Usman Zaki Street, Utako, reported the matter at Utako Police Station on August 16.

    She said in July, the complainant paid N800,000 into the convict’s account to secure an apartment for him in Utako.

  • Agent accuses police of bias

    Agent accuses police of bias

    An estate agent, Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye, has accused the police of putting pressure on doctors in an Abuja hospital where he is recuperating to discharge him so that he can be arraigned at a magistrate’s court in a land dispute matter at Lekki area of Lagos.

    Last Wednesday, leaders of 15 communities in Ibeju-Lekki protested against his arraignment in court for alleged land grabbing by the police.

    The communities comprising Oko Olomi, Olowu Olomi, Adeba Jagunna, Ita Panpa, Ada Onikonko, Oko Ile, Oke Jigi, Alabula, Seriki Alabula, Alaga, Oko Idi-oro, Idi Ope, Adebare, Abule Baba Adisa and Aiyeteju claimed that the police released Mutairu and his son, Gani, instead of bringing them to court.

    Owoeye said four policemen had been detailed to be at the hospital where he is recuperating, adding that apart from distracting the doctors, the police are putting pressure on the doctors to discharge him.

    He said: “There is no point putting pressure on the doctors to discharge me. Once, I am okay, the doctors will discharge me. They should allow me to take care of my health first. There was no time I encroached on people’s land. I am a registered estate agent like I said before and I don’t engage in illegal business.

    “The communities are using a retired police officer to threaten me. I no longer feel safe because they want to kill me. How can the police say they have bought my return ticket to Lagos? Who provided the money?

    “I bought the land in question from Toll System and I have all the necessary documents. My claims can be verified.

    “If they also have genuine papers on the land, then we will meet in court. The police should stop intimidating me. Once the doctors certified me okay, we will meet in court. Because the communities accused the police of shielding me, the police are now intimidating me.”

    According to him, it is on the same land that one of his workers, Olaewe Adeniyi, was shot by some hoodlums on May 3, while another one, Azeez Osunfunmi, was shot dead on May 8.

    “The incidents were reported at the Lekki Police Station. Adeniyi was admitted at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where some reporters interviewed him, while Osunfunmi was buried in Ibadan, Oyo State,” Owoeye said.

  • Estate agent docked for allegedly defrauding house seeker

    An estate agent, Obaneko Okpalete, was on Wednesday charged before an Ogudu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding an accommodation seeker, Mrs Faith Otharu, of N248, 000.

    Okpalete, 39, who lives at No. 639, Ikorodu Rd., Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

    He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The prosecutor, Cpl. Adekemi Adeniran, said the accused had on Feb. 21, at about 7:00 p.m. rented a demolished shop to Otharu at the sum of N248, 000.

    “The accused collected the sum of N248,000 from the complainant under the pretence of renting a shop located at Lawanson, Lagos, to her for two years.

    “But when Otharu and the accused got to the location of the supposed new shop a week later, the land was without any structure on it.

    “The complainant learnt that the structure on the land was demolished 20 days ago,” Adeniran said.

    According to her, the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

    Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Code stipulate three years and fifteen years imprisonment for stealing and fraud, respectively.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Omolade Awope, granted the accused bail in the sum of N300,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The case was adjourned till May 8 for mention.