A businesswoman, Esther Ijie, was on Tuesday charged with defrauding a family member of N4.7 million in a land deal at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates' Court, Lagos.

Ijie, who resides at No. 8, Okebola, St., Ogba in Ikeja, is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretences.

She, however, denied the charges.

The prosecutor, Inspector Richard Odigie, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in 2014 at Ogba.

Odigie alleged that the complainant, Henshaw Ebhodaghe, approached Ijie, a close family friend and explained to her that he needed to acquire a landed property.

“Ijie seized the opportunity to explain that she imports cars and Ebgodaghe requested her to help him acquire a Toyota Highlander jeep.

“Because of the closeness between the duo, Ebghodagbe who had been outside the country at different times, paid some money into the accused’s account for the landed property and the jeep.

“The complainant was presented a forged document instead of the original papers.

“When Ebhodagbe came back to the country, he was presented fake landed documents and the jeep was also not delivered to him.”

The offences contravened Sections 285, 312, 361 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 285 prescribes seven years jail term, Section 312 carries 14 years imprisonment, while Section 409 stipulates two years.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O.I. Adelaja, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to Sept. 28 for mention. (NAN)

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