A 62-year-old blind man, identified as Sule Akinyemi and a woman, Olajumoke Awosika, were yesterday arraigned before a Surulere Magistrate Court in Lagos Court for allegedly defrauding an accommodation seeker of N550,000.

The accused, Akinyemi, 62, and 51-year-old Awosika, were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, use of residence for obtaining by false pretense and obtaining money under false pretenses.

Testifying in court, the prosecutor, Sgt Jimah Iseghede, said the accused persons, with others still at large, committed the offences at No.1, Dipo Olubi Street, Aguda area of Surulere, Lagos.

Iseghede told the court that the accused persons collected the sum of N550, 000 on the pretext of leasing out a mini-flat to the complainant.

“Akinyemi pretended to be the owner of a mini-flat and collected the sum of N550, 000 from the complainant, Mr Ayodele Ayedun, with a promise to rent out the mini-flat to him.

“Awosika brought Ayedun to the blind man to make payment, and he was caught while making a transaction at the bank,” Iseghede said.

The prosecutor further disclosed that Akinyemi had been brought to the court several times for the same offence.

When the charges were read to the duo, they pleaded not guilty.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 285, 312 (a&b), 315 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.F. Adeeyo, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety each.

Adeeyo added that each surety should provide evidence of tax payment,.

She adjourned the case till August 6 for mention