NB247
Samson Fabunmi, an Ondo State resident has been convicted and sentenced to one year and two months in prison for obtaining a loan with fake documents and collaterals.
At the Chief Magistrate Court, Oke -Eda, court 1, Ondo state on Tuesday, 13th May, 2025, Mr Fabunmi was found guilty
on two counts of forgery, and obtaining under false pretence the sum of ₦1, 000,000.00.
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps which prosecuted the defendant said he was arraigned for obtaining a loan from Compassionate Backers Limited with forged documents and fake repayment alerts.
The defendant was charged under sections 446, 467, 118, and 419 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 37, Vol 1, Laws of Ondo State, 2006.
The defendant was pronounced guilty by His Worship, Ayunus Musa on the two counts charge against him and sentenced to One year imprisonment in count 1 and 2 months imprisonment in count 3 with an option of fine. The court acquired him on count 2, which bordered on perjury.
In a move for a restorative justice, the court also ordered and invoked section 296(3) of the Ondo State Administration of Criminal Justice Law that the convict should pay the nominal complainant the sum of N630, 000.00 as compensation since the convict had previously paid N570,000.00 as part of what he defrauded the complainant.
Fabumi was first arraigned on the 24th day of June, 2022 on a three count charge of forgery, perjury and obtaining under false pretense where he pleaded not guilty to the three counts charge against him, after the charge was read to him in English which was his preferred language.
However, on the 13th of September, 2022, the prosecution, M.I. OSIMEN of the Legal Unit of NSCDC, Ondo State Command opened the prosecution’s case and called PW1 who gave evidence, and subsequently called PW2 AND PW3 that also gave evidences and tendered 6 exhibits, Exhibits P1 to P6.
According to the details of the charges, the defendant on the 4th April, 2021, approached the nominal complainant, Compassionate Backers Limited for a loan of N1,000,000.00 at the rate of 5% for 10 months.
The credit officer had explained to the defendant the conditions he will need to meet before he will be credited with the loan amount. The defendant was asked to produce a collateral and a guarantor, of which he presented the receipt of a cylinder and a rubber stereotype machine and it was inspected by the credit officer.
However, the defendant only paid for three months and disappeared. It was later discovered that the items he presented as a collateral did not belong to him but for someone else. At a time the defendant did a fake alert to the nominal complainant. The defendant also deposed to an affidavit that the items he used as collateral belonged to him. The defendant was tracked, arrested and charged to court for forgery of receipt, perjury and obtaining the sum of N1,000,000.00 under false pretense.
The defence opened his case and called only one witness which was just himself and he closed his case. Parties were however ordered by the court to file their written addresses and subsequently adopted same on the 14th February, 2025. The court then adjourned the matter to the 13th day of May, 2025 for Judgment.