A 45-year-old estate agent, Micheal Okugbowa, has been arraigned before an Ikorodu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defrauding several accommodation seekers of a total sum of ₦5.05 million.
The defendant, whose residential address was not disclosed, is facing a four-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence. He, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
According to the prosecutor, ASP Aminu Isaac, the alleged offences took place between September and October 2025 at Bola Kazeem Estate, Owode Onirin, Ikorodu Road, Lagos.
Isaac told the court that on September 9, at about 10:30 a.m., the defendant fraudulently obtained ₦1.15 million from one Mr. Godwin Uzor under the pretence of securing a mini self-contained apartment for him. However, he allegedly converted the money to his personal use.
The prosecutor further alleged that on October 15, around 11:15 a.m., Okugbowa defrauded three other victims — Mr. Benjamin Igba of ₦900,000, Mr. Akinlade Temitope of ₦1.2 million, and Mr. Ebuka of ₦800,000 — also under the guise of providing mini-flats for them.
The offences, Isaac said, contravene Section 314(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which prescribes penalties for obtaining money by false pretences.
Magistrate B.A. Sonuga granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦1 million with two sureties in like sum. The court further ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below level 16, with a verification letter from the Head of Service and evidence of tax clearance for three years.
The case has been adjourned for further hearing.