A 78-year old man, Mr Gabriel Adejare, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to defrauding a man of N1.2 million while claiming to be an aide to the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and therefore could facilitate a chieftain year title for him from the monarch.
He also claimed to have the connection to influence Governor Abiola Ajimobi to approve same.
Adejare pleaded guilty to the three-count charge during his arraignment in a magistrate court, Iwo Road, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Wednesday.
Police prosecutor, Mr Sunday Aderemi, told the court that Adejare committed the offence in December 2017 at the Oyo State secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The charge sheet read: “Sometime in the month of December 2017, at the State Secretariat, Ibadan in the Ibadan magisterial district, you obtained the sum of N1.2m from one Zacheus Bolatito Oladepo, male, with a pretence of giving chieftaincy title of Baale Aladigun of Adigun at the Olubadan palace and thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under section 419 of criminal code cap 38 laws of Oyo State, 2000.
“On the same date, time and place of the aforementioned magisterial district, you did steal the sum of N1.2m property of one Zacheus Bolatito Oladepo and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 390 (9) of criminal code cap 38 laws of Oyo State, 2000.
“On the same date, time and place of the aforementioned magisterial district, you claimed to be representative of the Olubadan and the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under criminal code cap 38 laws of Oyo State, 2000.” He pleaded guilty to the offences.
Adejare also pleaded for leniency.
The Chief Magistrate, Taiwo Olaniran, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 and adjourned the case to September 9.
