The police in Lagos have arrested a gambler, Yakubu Bashir, for alleged fraud at the Bendel Inn on Ipodo Road, Ikeja, Lagos.
Bashir was picked up for his inability to pay for drinks and food worth N145,000.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Bashir had gone to the hotel on Wednesday with his friends to celebrate winning a sports bet.
He was said to have won N36,000.
He reportedly ordered assorted drinks
and food for himself, his friends and other people in the bar, with a
promise to pay the bills.
and food for himself, his friends and other people in the bar, with a
promise to pay the bills.
It was gathered that after the drinking
and merriment, the manager, Alaba, approached Bashir, telling him that
his bill was N145,000.
and merriment, the manager, Alaba, approached Bashir, telling him that
his bill was N145,000.
Trouble, however, started when the
suspect said he had only N36,000 and begged that he should be allowed to
pay the balance in installment.
suspect said he had only N36,000 and begged that he should be allowed to
pay the balance in installment.
Our correspondent learnt that in the
ensuing altercation, Bashir was detained, while the manager reported the
case at the Ikeja Police Division, leading to his arrest.
ensuing altercation, Bashir was detained, while the manager reported the
case at the Ikeja Police Division, leading to his arrest.
“I am an NCE holder and work as a
security guard in a hotel. On December 6, I placed a sports bet and won
N36,000. Out of happiness, I went to the bar with my friends to
celebrate my breakthrough. The money was in my bank account. I wanted
to withdraw it the following morning because we wanted to pass the night
at the bar. I explained to a waiter that I would give him N36,000 and
pay him up by January, but he refused,” the 26-year-old suspect
reportedly told the police.
security guard in a hotel. On December 6, I placed a sports bet and won
N36,000. Out of happiness, I went to the bar with my friends to
celebrate my breakthrough. The money was in my bank account. I wanted
to withdraw it the following morning because we wanted to pass the night
at the bar. I explained to a waiter that I would give him N36,000 and
pay him up by January, but he refused,” the 26-year-old suspect
reportedly told the police.
A police prosecutor, Inspector Benedict
Aigbokhan, brought Bashir before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on two
counts of conduct likely to cause breach of the peace and fraud.
Aigbokhan, brought Bashir before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court on two
counts of conduct likely to cause breach of the peace and fraud.
The charges read, “That you, Yakubu
Bashir, on December 7, 2016, at about 1.10am at Bendel Inn on Ipodo
Road, Ikeja, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conduct
yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by ordering
for assorted drinks and food for your friends worth N145,000 and
refusing to pay, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section
166 of the Criminal Law, No. 11, Vol.44, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria,
2011.
Bashir, on December 7, 2016, at about 1.10am at Bendel Inn on Ipodo
Road, Ikeja, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conduct
yourself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by ordering
for assorted drinks and food for your friends worth N145,000 and
refusing to pay, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section
166 of the Criminal Law, No. 11, Vol.44, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria,
2011.
“That you, on the same date, time and
place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, did fraudulently collect
assorted drinks and food valued at N145,000 promising to pay, knowing
same to be false, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section
312 of the Criminal Law, No 11, Vol.44, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria,
2011.”
place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, did fraudulently collect
assorted drinks and food valued at N145,000 promising to pay, knowing
same to be false, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section
312 of the Criminal Law, No 11, Vol.44, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria,
2011.”
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty
before the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Akokhia, and was granted
bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
before the presiding magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Akokhia, and was granted
bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned till January 25, 2017.