Lagos Businesswoman Helen Nwankwo Lands In Prison For Alleged N11.7m Fraud

BY PAUL IYOGHOJIE

A Lagos businesswoman at the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos, Ms. Helen Chinedu Nwankwo, 33, has been arrested by the operatives of the Force Headquarters, Annex, Obalende, Lagos and charged before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly obtaining the sum of N11,748,000 from two traders under false pretence.

Police alleged that the defendant allegedly collected the sum of N9,448,000 from a  complainant, Onuchukwu Nkoli Testimony and N2,300,000 from another complainant, Angela Uba with the promise of supplying them Spaghetti, Chikki noodles and Indomie noodles, but failed to supply them the noodles and instead converted the money to her use and fled.

Police further alleged that following the development, the complainants petitioned the Inspector General of Police who referred the case to his crack team at the Force Headquarters, Lagos for detailed investigation leading to the arrest of the defendant through intelligence gathering and tracking in Lagos.

The defendant was charged before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court sitting at the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a five count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

Police counsel, Benjamin Ekundayo informed the court in the charged marked R/61/2024 that the defendant committed the offence on 11 October, 2024 at Ondo plaza, Trade Fair compex, Ojo, Lagos.

Ekundayo told the Court that the defendant collected the money from the complainants to supply them Spaghetti, Chikki and Indomie Noddles but she betrayed the trust the complainants reposed in her as a distributor and fled with their N11,748,000 before she was arrested through intelligence gathering and tracking.

He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sections 411, 314(3), 280, and  287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendant, however pleaded not guilty to the charges and the  presiding Magistrate granted her N500,000 bail with two surties in like sum.

The Magistrate adjourned the case till 15 January, 2025 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Kirikiri correctional facilities till she perfected the bail conditions.