A visually-impaired man, Sule Akinyemi and a woman, Olajumoke Awosika, were on Wednesday charged with defrauding an accommodation seeker of N550, 000 at a Surulere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos. The accused — Akinyemi, 62, and Awosika, 51 – are facing a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, use of residence for obtaining by false pretence and obtaining money under false pretences.

The duo pleaded not guilty. But the prosecutor, Sgt. Jimah Iseghede told the court that the accused with others still at large committed the offences at No.1, Dipo Olubi St., Surulere -Aguda in Lagos. He said the accused collected N550, 000 on the pretext of letting a mini-flat to the complainant as the owner of the property.

“Akinyemi pretended to be the owner of a mini-flat and collected the sum of N550, 000 from the complainant, Mr Ayodele Ayedun, with a promise to rent out the mini-flat to him. “Awosika brought Ayedun to the blindman to make payment, and he was caught while making a transaction at the bank.’’ Iseghede said the virtually-impaired man had been brought to the court several times for the same offence.

The offences, he noted, contravened Sections 285, 312 (a&b), 315 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Ruling on the bail application of the accused, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.F. Adeeyo, granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety each. She said each surety should provide evidence of tax payment, while their addresses should also be verified. The magistrate adjourned the case to Aug.6 for mention.