MICHAEL AKINOLA
A woman, Mrs. Sanni Abimbola, has been swindled to the tune of N.5m in her attempt to secure good JAMB result and admission for her son into the University of Lagos and it turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect behind the alleged fraud, Ukwuoma Uzoma Chris, has been arrested and charged for obtaining under false pretence and stealing.
The incident happened 19th September, 2024, at Kehinde Akanmon Street, Ilupeju area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect contacted the complainant that he had the links to secure an admission for her son and asked her to pay the said amount, which she believed and paid.
After the suspect collected the money, he went and procured both JAMB and UNILAG fake admission letters and handed them to her, which she thought were genuine.
However, when the the complainant went to the school and presented the letters, it was discovered that they were fake and he contacted the suspect, who had already disconnected every communication he had with her.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ilupeju Division. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspect and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to have collected the money and spent it and that he was unable to secure any admission as he promised.
The Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read: “That you, Ukwuoma Uzoma Chris ‘M’ sometime between 3rd and 19th of September, 2024, at No. 19 Kehinde Akanmon Street, Ilupeju, Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) from Mrs. Sanni Abimbola ‘f’ on the pretence of getting admission for her son and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 (1)b of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:That you, Ukwuoma Uzoma Chris ‘M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) property of one Sanni Abimbola ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III: That you, Ukwuoma Uzoma Chris ‘M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did forge University of Lagos Provisional Admission for 2024/2025 Academic Session and Joint Admission Matriculation Board and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 363 (3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Evelyn, then 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, Mr. M.A. Adegbaye, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 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 25th November, 2024, 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.