Woman, 45, Sent To Prison For Swindling Bosom Friend N6.8m With Fake Business

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

What transpired between Mrs. Uwakwe Vivian and her bosom female friend,  Mrs. Catherine Ndu Okoli, may be described as the height of betrayal as Vivian allegedly swindled Catherine to the tune of the sum of N6.8m with a fake business and bolted away in Lagos State.

The 45-year old Mrs. Vivian contacted her friend, Catherine and told her that she was into an undisclosed business, which yields huge profit and encouraged her to bring some money and she will assist her to invest it with 50 percent interest as returns.

The incident happened in 2021 at Iba Housing Estate, where they reside.

The victim, Mrs. Catherine, believed Vivian because she was her friend, gave her the money as they had agreed on the interest unknown to her that it was a fraud.

However, after Vivian had collected the money,  she bolted away and disconnected every form of communication they had and did not return the money nor the interest as she had promised.

The matter was reported to the Police at the State Command. The operatives trailed Vivian, eventually arrested and detained her at the Command for interrogation over her alleged conduct.

After rounds of interrogation,  the Police found her culpable and consequently charged her before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged obtaining under false pretence and stealing, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

However,  she pleaded not guilty when she was arraigned.

The prosecutor, Inspector Ajayi Emmanuel, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.I Raji, granted her bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.

The defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions while the matter was adjourned for mention.