CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Shock and disbelief filled the Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos on Friday as a 28-year-old woman, Omirefa Victoria, was arraigned for allegedly collecting N4.1m from her friend to plan a wedding and vanishing with the money.
Victoria is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence in January 2026 within the Ogba Magisterial District of Lagos State.
According to Ademigbuji, the complainant, Ikeoluwa Miriam, had approached Victoria in December 2025 to help her plan what was meant to be a dream wedding. Trusting their friendship, Miriam agreed to pay Victoria to handle all logistics, vendors, and arrangements.
The prosecutor said Victoria provided her Wema Bank account details, No: 0408297206, and between January 2026, Miriam transferred a total of N4,155,000 into the account. The funds were meant to cover venue booking, decoration, catering, photography, and other wedding expenses.
Ademigbuji told the court that after receiving the money, Victoria allegedly stopped picking calls, avoided meetings, and cut off communication with Miriam. Weeks turned into months with no sign of any wedding planning, prompting Miriam to report the matter to the Pen-Cinema Police Division, Agege.
The prosecutor alleged that investigations revealed that the defendant converted the funds to her personal use instead of using them for the purpose they were given. He said that was how the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department and later to court.
The charges filed against Victoria are said to contravene Section 313 and are punishable under Section 314(3) for obtaining money under false pretenses. She is also charged under Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 for stealing.
When the charges were read to her, Victoria pleaded not guilty to both counts. She told the court through the court clerk that she intended to defend herself.
In her ruling, Magistrate Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1,000,000 with two sureties in like sum. The magistrate was specific that the sureties must be gainfully employed, reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and must provide evidence of means of livelihood as well as tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
However, because the bail conditions could not be met immediately, the magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody the Correctional Center at Kirikiri Town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.
The court adjourned the matter to a later date for mention. SP Ademigbuji told the court that the prosecution would be calling witnesses and tendering bank statements and WhatsApp messages as evidence during trial.
The case attracted sympathizers, friends of the complainant, and curious onlookers who thronged the courtroom. Many described the incident as “a betrayal of friendship,” while others called for stiffer punishment for fraudsters who hide under personal relationships to defraud people.
The Police said investigations are ongoing to determine if other victims are involved.