A 32-year old woman, Nwankwo Chinenye Sophia, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a man, Abraham Oladimeji Owolabi, to the tune of N18m under false pretence.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Ikeja area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect stole the money in question by presenting her First Bank account number 3031628702, where the money was transferred to and she later disbursed the money to other accounts before the victim later realized that it was a scam.
The alleged fraud was reported to the Police at Area F Command of the Lagos State Command. The operatives moved into action, arrested the suspect and detained her at the Command for interrogation over her alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found her culpable and charged her before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Nwankwo Chinenye Sophia ‘F’ and one other at large, sometime in March 2024, at Ikeja, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to steal the sum of Eighteen Million Naira (N18,000,000) from one Abraham Oladimeji Owolabi ‘M’ by presenting your First Bank Account Number 3031628702, where the money was transferred to, which you later disbursed to other accounts known to you and thereby Committed an offence contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal laws of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Nwankwo Chinenye Sophia and one other at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did convert the sum of Eighteen Million Naira (N18,000,000) property of Abraham Oladimeji Owolabi ‘M’ for your own use and that of the other person at large and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted her 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.