MICHAEL AKINOLA
Two suspects, Onuche Joseph, 34 and a woman, Lawal Rofiat, 29, have been arrested and charged for allegedly operating fake ambulance services and using it to defraud members of the public at the General Hospital in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on the 29th of April, 2025, at Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada area of Lagos, where they were apprehended by the operatives of Rapid Response Squad.
According to the Police, the suspects were alleged to be defrauding unsuspected members of the public by using Braingrace Ambulance Service not registered with (HEFAMAA) Health Facilities and Monitoring Accreditation Agency under Lagos State Government.
Thus, they were arrested and charged before the Court for the alleged offence.
The charges read :
COUNT I: “That you, Onuche Joseph ‘m’ 34yrs and Lawal Rofiat ‘f’ 29yrs on the 29th of April, 2025 at about 1415hrs at Gbagada General Hospital, Gbagada in Lagos Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 168 (1) (d) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Onuche Joseph ‘m’ 34yrs and Lawal Rofiat ‘f’ 29yrs and one other now at large on the same date and time in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit defrauding unsuspected members of the public by using Braingrace Ambulance Service not registered with (HEFAMAA) Health Facilities and Monitoring Accreditation Agency under Lagos State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 325 of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Onuche Joseph ‘m’ 34yrs and Lawal Rofiat ‘f’ 29yrs and one other now at large on the same date and time in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did impersonate Lagos State Ambulance Services with an intent to defraud Lagosians by using a fake Ambulance Service named Braingrace not registered with Health Facilities and Monitoring Accreditation Agency (HEFAMAA) under Lagos State Government as an Ambulance Service thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 380 of the criminal laws o Lagos State 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.