A Lagos magistrates’ court has arraigned a 35-year-old man over allegations that he deceptively acquired petroleum products worth millions of naira without settling the agreed payment, setting the stage for a criminal trial.
Police accused the defendant, Henry Nnakwe, of engaging in a fraudulent transaction that allegedly left a filling station with significant financial losses.
He was brought before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Badagry, where he denied any wrongdoing.
According to the prosecution, the incident stemmed from a transaction involving petroleum supplies allegedly obtained on trust.
The police said the suspect collected the products with assurances that payment would be made later, assurances that were never fulfilled.
ASP Edet Ekpo, who led the prosecution, told the court that the offence was committed on October 14 along the Seme–Badagry Expressway.
He said the fuel was released to the defendant at Mav Dav Filling Station after he convinced the station’s supervisor, Olarewaju Olajire, that payment would follow.
“The products were handed over based on trust, but the money never came,” Ekpo said. “Several efforts to recover the funds proved unsuccessful.”
Moreover, the prosecutor disclosed that the management of the filling station eventually traced the suspect to his residence, apprehended him, and handed him over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
The charge, police said, falls under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which deals with obtaining property by false pretence.
Ruling on the matter, Chief Magistrate Nurudeen Layeni granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like amount. He added that one of the sureties must be a company director.
The magistrate subsequently adjourned the case until February 5, 2026, for mention, pending further proceedings.