Bureau De Change Agent Allegedly Duped Army Officer Of N2.6m

A Bureau de change agent operating at Tejuosho Market, Yaba, Lagos, Mr. Abubakar Salisu, 61, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly obtaining the sum of N2.6 million from an army officer (name withheld) under false pretense.

Police alleged that Salisu collected the money from the complainant with the pretext of selling dollars equivalent for him, but that after the defendant collected the money from the officer, he absconded with the money and switched off his phones.

Following the development, the Army Officer petitioned the Commander of the Police in charge of the Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU Ikoyi, Lagos, CP Anderson Bankole who directed his craft team to arrest the fleeing suspect anywhere he could be found.

The Police team, after several months of intelligence gathering tracked the defendant to a hide out in Lagos and arrested him.

Salisu was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate Court, Lagos on a one-count charge of obtaining money under false pretense and stealing.

Police Counsel, Amedu Adoga informed the Court in the charge marked A/52/2021 that the defendant committed the offence in June 2021 at Yaba, Lagos.

Adoga told the court that the defendant collected the money from the complainant to sell dollars equivalent for him, but that the defendant instead escaped with the money and switched of his phones before he was tracked and arrested.

Adoga said the offence committed was punishable under section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge and Magistrate, Mrs K.K Awoyinka granted him N1 million bail with two surety in like sum.

Awoyinka adjoined the case till 28 January, 2022 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept at the Ikoyi Correctional facility till he perfected the bail conditions