White Lady Duped With Fake Marriage Dissolution Certificate

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 35-year old man, Owonifari Gbenga, has been arrested after he allegedly scammed a white lady of huge amount of money under false pretence by engaging her in marriage through the internet.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the lady, Sonia Ikocz-Kotlowski, fell into Gbenga’s trap when he presented fake marriage dissolution certificate to her purportedly from the Lagos High Court that he had divorced his wife.

However, the certificate was discovered to be a fake one and was forged to defraud Sonia, as Gbenga was legally married with children. The embattled lady, who was already in Nigeria, went to the Police at Ikeja Division and reported. Gbenga was then arrested and detained at the station for interrogation.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed that he was married and had children. He said that the marriage certificate he sent to the victim was forged in order to obtain money from her.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that Gbenga met Sonia on the internet, they chatted for a while before negotiating for marriage, which the lady accepted on the condition that he was not married.
The suspect reportedly lied to her that he was married before but had divorced his wife and had since then remained single. To prove to her that he was single, he forged the marriage dissolution certificate and sent to her through the internet. She was then convinced and sent the said money to him. She planned and later arrived the country to meet her purported intending husband but was shocked over the revelations. It was when she discovered the scam and reported to the police that Gbenga was arrested and charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for forgery and fraud.
He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Ezekiel Ayorinde, asked the Court to give a date for trial to enable the police to prove the allegations.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O.Osunsanmi, granted him bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions. The matter was adjourned till 7th August, 2019.