Lady, 37, Arraigned For Swindling Man Of N7m Under False Pretence 

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A 37-year old lady, Esther Mariam Ajao, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a man, Aderemi Oloyede, by going to his company as a sales representative and carting away goods worth over N7.2m under false pretence. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 2nd October,2025 at Ademoye Street Ile-Epo Bus-Stop, Ikotun, Lagos, where the complainant’s office, Blessed Oloyede Nigeria Enterprise, is located.

According to the Police, the lady, as a sales representative, went to company and collected the goods to the tune of the said amount under the false pretence of selling the goods and to remit the money to the company’s account.

However, after collecting the money,  through her personal UBA account number 2005703356, she diverted and spent the money without the consent of the company.

The company later discovered that she had collected the money and did not remit it. The matter was reported to the Police at Ikotun Division; she was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation.

After rounds of interrogation, the Police found her culpable for diverting goods and spending the money without the company’s consent. She was consequently charged before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

“That you, Esther Mariam Ajao ‘f, On the 2nd day of October 2025 at about 1510hrs at No 3/4 Ademoye Street Ile-Epo Bus-Stop, Ikotun, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did defraud one Aderemi Oloyede ‘m’, when you went to Blessed Oloyede Nigeria Enterprise, collected goods as a Sales Rep and diverted money to your personal account and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 168(d), of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.”

COUNT II: “That you, Esther Mariam Ajao ‘f, on same date, time and place, in the Aforesaid Magisterial District, did defraud one Aderemi Oloyede ‘m’ by obtaining the sum of Seven Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand Naira (7,273,000.00) by collecting the money through your personal UBA account number 2005703356 and spending it without the consent of the company and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 313 and punishable under Section 314 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.”

COUNT III: “That you, Esther Mariam Ajao ‘f’, on same date, time and place, in the Aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Seven Million, Two Hundred and Seventy Three Thousand Naira (7,273,000.00) the money you realized from company sales, property of one Aderemi Oloyede ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 (7) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.”

However, she pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then 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, Mr. T.A. Popoola, 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 while addresses will be verified by the Court.

The matter was adjourned till 28th November,2025, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.