A 42-year old man, Ariwaponu John Oluwatosin, has been arrested in Lagos for allegedly swindling a single lady, Patricia Nwangwu, the sum of N1.7m at the Lord’s Chosen Church under the false pretence of getting married to her.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at the Lord’s Chosen Church premises located at Ijesha area of Lagos State.
The embittered lady, Patricia was said to have gone to the church for prayers in order to a husband and it was during that period she met Oluwatosin in the church and he promised to get married to her, which she accepted.
The suspect was alleged to have convinced the lady that he actually wanted to get married to her and in the process, he asked her for money so he could use it to perform some marriage rites with the promise to refund the money after he had harvested cassava and plantain from his farm.
The victim believed him and gave him the money with the hope that he will use the money for the marriage rites.
However, after he obtained the money, he bolted away and disconnected every communication he had with her and equally stopped coming to the Church. It was then that the lady, Patricia, realized that she had been duped. She then went to the Police and reported the matter.
The Police trailed the suspect, eventually arrested and detained him for interrogation over his alleged conduct. While with the Police, he reportedly admitted to have obtained the money but had spent it and he had no intention of getting married to her as he promised.
The Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Isolo Magistrates Court for the alleged fraud.
He pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Supol Nwangu Peter, 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, Mrs. O. Kasanu, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of tax payment and means of livelihood.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.