By OLAWALE AKINREMI

A middle-aged suspected recruiter, Solomon Akinbobola, was arraigned on Friday before Justice Nkeonye Maha of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, for allegedly defrauding two people of N881,500.

Akinbobola, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count amended charge of stealing and impersonation brought against him by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ibadan Zonal Command.

Consequently, Maha ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Agodi Custodian Centre, while she adjourned the suit until Oct. 13 for hearing on bail application and trial.

The prosecutor, Mr Jayeola Adewale, had earlier told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the crime on June 8, at Amunloko, Ona Ara Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Shedding more light on the matter, Adewale stated that the defendant allegedly obtained N653,500 from one Valentine Akintunde and N228,000 from one Taiwo Olatoye.

He was said to have promised them to facilitate the recruitment of their sons, Emmanuel Akintunde and Oladimeji Olatoye, into the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to the prosecutor, Akinbobola obtained the money from the victims in trenches.

He noted that the offences contravened provisions of Section 240 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 (as amended), Law of the Federation 2004. (NAN)