A 47-year-old man, Emmanuel Apeh, was on Wednesday arraigned before a Badagry Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, for allegedly defrauding five parents of N200, 000 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees.
Apeh, whose address was not disclosed, is facing a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.
The prosecutor, ASP Akpan Nko, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in December, 2021, at Newton College, Kilometre 25, Okokomaiko, Badagry Expressway, Lagos.
Nko alleged that the defendant obtained N200, 000 as registration fees from five parents under the pretext of wanting to use it to register their children for WASSCE, knowing the claim to be false.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant stole the money by converting it to his personal use, noting that the offences contravened Sections 314 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 287 stipulates three years’ jail term for stealing for any convicted offender.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Presiding Chief Magistrate, Mr. Patrick Adekomaiya, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction with evidence of tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
He adjourned the case until February 28 for mention.
