MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 31-year old staff of St Ives hospital, Akowonjo, Egbeda area of Lagos State, has been arrested and charged for allegedly defrauding hospital patients to the tune of N3.8m under the false pretence of registering them on health insurance scheme.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the hospital located at Akowonjo area, where the suspect works.
According to the Police, the suspect and his colleague now at large, conspired and collected the money without the consent of the hospital management to register them at an agreed period.
However, the victims waited in vain as they did not register or refund their monies, which prompted them to report to the management over what happened.
The matter was reported to the Police at Shasha Division. The suspect was then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT 1- “That you, Ajani Abiodun ‘m’ and one other now at large, both staff of St Ives Hospital, Akowonjo Lagos, sometime in the month of January 2025 at No 129. Akowanjo Road, Egbeda in the Lagos Magistarial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit obtaining money under false pretence and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 4ll of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Ajani Abiodun ‘m’ and one other now at large, within the same period, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of N3.802.000:00. Three million eight hundred and two thousand Naire only, from private patients’ under the pretence to register them on Health Maintenence Organization (HMO), a representation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Criminel Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III -“That you, Ajani Abiodun ‘m. and one other now at large, within the same period, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N3.802.000:00. Three, million eight hundred and two thousand Naira only from private patients and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 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 22nd April, 2025, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.