The Lagos State Police Command has charged Nelson Tobori Eduviere (37) and Oluwole Thomas (50) for alleged self kidnapping and swindling a woman, Potori Comfort Oghenetega, of the sum of N32m under the false pretence of securing a job for her at Julius Berger company.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between July and November 2025, at Ago Okota area of Lagos.
Apart from obtaining the money, the suspects were alleged to have kidnapped themselves, contacted the victim and obtained ransom from her before they released themselves.
However, the complainant later discovered that they had swindled her because they did not secure the job as they had promised as well as other promises they made.
She then realized that she has been duped and reported the matter to the Police at the Tactical Team of the State Command. The Police operatives moved into action, eventually arrested and detained the suspects for interrogation.
During the investigation, the Police discovered that they had kidnapped themselves and obtained ransom from the complainant and there was no existing job at Julius Berger, where they claimed to be members of staff. They also allegedly impersonated Julius Berger staff to deceive the victim into handing over N2m for fake travel documents.
They were found culpable and charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged conspiracy, kidnapping and stealing, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, Nelson Tobori Eduviere ‘m’, Oluwole Thomas ‘m’ and others at large, on the 24th November, 2025 at about 0305hrs at Ago Okota, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Kidnapping and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 3 of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2017.”
COUNT II: “That you, Nelson Tobori Eduviere ‘m’, Oluwole Thomas ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully and falsely mastermind your kidnap by using the phone no. 08083099380 to call one Potori Comfort Oghenetega and collected a ransom of N150,000.00 from her through Moniepoint account No. 8083099380 Tobori Eduviere ‘m’ before you released yourself and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 2(1)(2)(3) of the Kidnapping Prohibition Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2017.”
COUNT III: “That you, Nelson Tobori Eduviere ‘m’, Oluwole Thomas ‘m’ and now at large, between 7th July, 2025 to 24th November, 2025 at Ago, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretence, and impersonation and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
COUNT IV:”That you, Nelson Tobori Eduviere ‘m’, Oluwole Thomas ‘m’ and others at large, on the same date and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial did with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N30,000, 000.00) from Potori Comfort Oghenetega ‘f’ under the pretence to use the money to seek for employment in Julius Berger company Abuja or Algeria, Norway and to pay for your mother’s medical and to buy two iphones, which you did not do, knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 313 and punishable under Section 314(i)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
COUNT V:”That you, Nelson Tobori Eduviere ‘m’, Oluwole Thomas ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal the N30,000,000.00 property of one Potori Comfort Oghenetega ‘f and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT VI:”That you, Nelson Tobori Eduviere ‘m’, Oluwole Thomas ‘m’ and thers now at large, on the same date and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did impersonate to be a staff of Julius Berger Company Limited and fraudulently collected the sum of Two million Naira (N2,000,000.00) from Potori Comfort Ogbenetega ‘f’ to process travelling documents to Algeria and Norway for training, which you did not do knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
They were remanded in custody at the correctional center pending the outcome of DPP’s advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.