Ekiti man arraigned over alleged N200,000 rock-blasting fraud

By Boye Oyeyemi

A 40-year-old man, Bamidele Fagboro, has been arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly collecting N200,000 to blast a rock in his community but abandoning the project before completion.

Fagboro, whose address was not disclosed, was brought before the court on Thursday on a one-count charge of fraud, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Sodiq Adeniyi, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on March 28 at about 6 p.m. on Marina Avenue, Odo-Ado, Ado-Ekiti.

Adeniyi alleged that Fagboro collected N200,000 from one Akande Ajayi out of an agreed N300,000 payment for blasting a rock in their community but abandoned the assignment after completing only a small portion of the work.

He further told the court that the defendant allegedly disappeared without completing the project, adding that the offence contravened Section 419 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

Following the defendant’s plea, the prosecutor requested an adjournment to enable him to study the case file and prepare his witnesses, while defence counsel, Oluwasola Olarewaju, urged the court to grant his client bail, assuring that he would attend subsequent proceedings.

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Dolamu Babalogbon, granted Fagboro bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

The magistrate adjourned the case until December 9 for hearing.