Twenty-one-year-old Adejimi Adepoju stood before a Magistrates’ Court in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Thursday, facing allegations of using a fake money transfer to purchase a mobile phone.

The defendant reportedly defrauded a phone seller at New Market, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on April 3 by acquiring a mobile phone and settling the payment with counterfeit funds.

During the court session, the prosecutor, Sunday Osanyintuyi, accused the defendant of obtaining a mobile phone valued at N180,000 and making payment through a fraudulent money transfer. Osanyintuyi stated that the defendant’s actions contravened Section 157 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2002.

In response to the charges, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

The defence counsel, Samuel Obi, requested bail for Adepoju under lenient conditions, assuring the court that the defendant could provide trustworthy individuals to act as sureties.

In his verdict, the presiding magistrate, Taofeek Badmus, granted bail to the defendant in the amount of N500,000, requiring two sureties to provide a similar sum. Badmus mandated the sureties to swear affidavits of means and reside within the court’s jurisdiction, with one of them being a blood relative of the defendant.

The case was adjourned until May 16 for further proceedings.