Ibadan: A 39-year-old alleged fake money lender, Joshua Akinola, faced charges in a Mapo Grade A Customary Court in Ibadan for multiple fraud offenses. Akinola, accused of being a ‘loan shark,’ pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge of false pretence and theft brought against him by the police.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the court’s President, Mrs. O.E. Owoseni, granted Akinola bail set at N500,000, with the requirement of two reliable sureties each matching the bail amount. Owoseni specified that the sureties must present evidence of owning landed property within the court’s jurisdiction and provide their National Identification Number (NIN) for verification. The case is scheduled for a hearing on June 18.
The Prosecution Counsel, Inspector Ayodele Ayeni, reported that the alleged offenses occurred between August 23, 2025, and January 2026 at Ogunpa Market in Ibadan, Oyo State. Ayeni detailed that Akinola allegedly defrauded Lusia Ajikobi of N334,500, Samson Akinola of N437,000, Adebisi Adebowale of N250,000, and Alimat Sanusi of N160,000, all under the pretense of providing loans.