MICHAEL AKINOLA
A cleric, Pastor Lawrence Oriero, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a lady, Sabella Kollo, the sum of $5000 Dollars under false pretence and diverted the money.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Pastor Oriero, has been arrested.
The incident happened at Ikeja area of Lagos, where Oriero allegedly contacted the victim and obtained the money under the false pretence of investing the money into FOREX business, which was false.
According to the Police, the suspect contacted the victim and convinced her to bring the money in order to assist her to invest in the FOREX business to make more money. She was said to have believed him as a man of God without suspecting any foul play and gave him the money to invest into the business.
However, after she gave him the money, he bolted away, went into hiding and did not invest the money into the business talk less of the profit. He claimed that the business will yield reasonable profit for her over a period of time.
When the victim attempted to contact him, he had already disconnected every communication he had with her and she could not reach him. It was then that she realized she had been duped.
She went to the Police at Ikeja Division and reported the matter. The Police then trailed, eventually arrested and detained him at the station for interrogation over his alleged criminal conduct.
During the interrogation, the Police discovered that he had spent all the money and did not invest in the Forex business as he promised before he obtained the money.
He was found culpable and subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody at the Correctional Centre in Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.