A suspected fraudster, Mohammed Folani Kabir, who allegedly claimed to be an insurer and defrauded unsuspecting members of the public of the sum of N5,787,000, has been arraigned before an Ilorin Chief Magistrate Court.

The 36-year-old accused of Sawmill Area, Ilorin, Kwara State was said to have lured the victims into a daily contribution and swindled them.

The accused appeared in court on a one-court charge of obtaining money under false pretence, contrary to section 1 (2) (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences, Act 2006.

The accused was indicted following a complaint at the state Criminal Intelligent Department (SCID), Nigeria Police, Kwara command, Ilorin by the victims.

According to the complainants, the accused sometimes in April 2011 introduced himself as a staff of UNIC insurance PLC, Ilorin, owned by former interim president, Chief Ernest Shonekan, and criminally induced them to engage in daily contribution with his company.

They also alleged that the accused deceived them that they would have the right to borrow money double the amount they contributed to enable them finance their businesses.

Police First Information Report (FIR) on the matter stated that, as a result of the accused deceit, he fraudulently collected N900, 000 from Ajibade Adesumbo, N496, 000 from Maduka Franklin and N317, 000 from Emmanuel Okafor.

Others are Ibenye Honour N360, 000, Tijani Quadri N105, 000, Ogoegbunm. C Okurey N282,000, Chukuwuneke Nathanel N360, 000, Abili Sunday N303, 000 and Saint Emmanuel N1, 128, 000.

The accused was also said to have collected N1, 128, 000 from Nwafor Charity, N365, 000 from Adorma Israel, N310, 000 from Madam Gold, N370, 000 from Okeke Daniel, N310, 000 from Ajibola Fatai and the sum of N150, 000 from Olaoye Hellen.

The FIR added that investigation revealed that the accused fraudulently collected the total sum of N5, 787, 000 from the victims under false pretence.

The prosecutor, Inspector Moshood Adebayo informed the court that investigation into the matter is yet to be completed; he prayed the court to adjourn the case till further date to enable the police complete investigation.

The prosecutor left the issue of the bail of the accused to the discretion of the court.

The defense counsel, Barrister Babaniyi Olugbenga, prayed the court to admit the accused to bail since he has notable sureties that would ensure his presence in court at every adjourned date.

The trial judge, Chief Magistrate Lekan Adegbite, exercised his bail discretion in favour of the accused, as he granted the oral application of the defence.

The court stated that the accused should undertake not to jump bail and provide a surety, while the case was adjourned until October 22 for further mention.