Woman in court over alleged issuance of dud cheque

A businesswoman, Yetunde Atilade, was on Thursday charged before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly obtaining N1.5 million loan under false pretences.

Atilade, 51, who resides at No. 17, Yesufu Sanusi St., Surulere, Lagos, is standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences and issuance of a dishonoured cheque.

The Prosecutor, Insp. Ezekiel Ayorinde, told the court that the accused fraudulently obtained N1.5 million on Nov. 20, 2014, from an asset and payment financing company, Seedvest Limited, located at No.15, Omotayo Ojo St., off Allen Avenue, Ikeja.

Ayorinde said that the accused, who is running a canteen at the premises of High Court in Ikeja, falsely obtained the said amount to purchase stocks but diverted it to other use.

He said that Atilade issued two post dated Guaranty Trust Bank cheques, No. 61297098 dated Jan. 23, 2015, for the sum of N331,250 and No. 62990731 dated May 22, 2015, for the sum of N1.225 million in favour of Seedvest Limited.

The prosecutor said that when the cheques were presented at the bank for payments, the bank did not honour it for insufficient funds and all efforts by the company to reach the accused were unsuccessful.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 312, 320 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. However, the accused pleaded not guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O.J. Awope, granted the accused bail in the sum of N400,000 with two sureties in like sum. Awope adjourned the case to April 1 for mention.