KINGSLEY EBERE
A 47-year old man, Nkeshi Emmanuel Azuka, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a lady, Ofuani Onuwa Stella, to the tune of N.476m under the false pretense of using the money to process their Court wedding, which turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between 6th and 26th November, 2025 in Ayobo area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect told the complainant that he wanted to get married to her and then travel abroad with her for greener pastures. He asked her to bring the money so that he will use it to process their wedding documents.
The complainant believed and gave him the money to process their wedding documents in order to travel abroad as they had agreed.
However, after the complainant gave him the money, he bolted away and disconnected every communication he had with her.
The matter was reported to the Police at Ayobo Division. The The Police operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspect and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, 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:
COUNT 1: “That you, Nkeshi Emmanuel Azuka ‘M’ from 6/11/2025 to 26/11/2025, between 09:00hrs to 10:00hrs, at Ayobo area Ayobo Lagos In the Ikeja Magisterial, did unlawfully obtain the sum of Four Hundred and Seventy Six Thousand naira (N476,000) from one Ofuani Onuwa Stella ‘F’ under the false pretense that you will use the money to process court wedding documents that will enable you travel abroad with her as your legal wife which you failed and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 314(1) and punishable under Section 04(3) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Nkeshi Emmanuel Azuka ‘M’ on the same day, time, and e in the Aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Four hundred and Seventy Six Thousand Naira (N476,000) property of Ofuani Onuwa ‘F’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Mr. Lucky Ihiehie, 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. M.O.Tanimola, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned 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.