MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 28-year old lady, Miracle Chikanele, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a man, Collins Osamudiamen, to the tune of the sum of N21m under false pretence.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between 22nd July,2022 to 27th January, 2024, at Agbaire Okofilling, Ejigbo, Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect asked the complainant to bring the money for her to invest into an undisclosed business transaction, which will yield huge profits. He believed her and gave the money to her.
However, after she collected the money, she bolted away and disconnected every communication she had with the complainant while she did not refund the money nor profit as she promised on the investment.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ejigbo Division. The suspect was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over the alleged offence.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found her culpable and charged her before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
“That you, Miracle Chikanele ‘f’ between 22nd July, 2022 to 27th January, 2024, at Agbaire Okofilling, Ejigbo, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of Twenty One Million Naira (N21,000,000.00), from one Collins Osamudiamen ‘m’ under false pretence of loan investment knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 (2) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
Count II:”That you, Miracle Chikanele ‘f, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Twenty One Million Naira (N21,000,000.00), belonging to one Collins Osamudiamen ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, 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, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, granted her 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 15th April, 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.