CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 32-year-old woman, Ifunanya Geraldine Egbe, was on Thursday arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrate Court in Lagos over alleged conspiracy, stealing, obtaining by false pretenses and forgery to the tune of N8,500,000.
The defendant was arraigned by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police on a four-count charge. before Magistrate Mr. L.A. Owolabi.
According to the charge sheet obtained by P.M.EXPRESS, the prosecution alleged that Egbe and others at large committed the offences between August 14, 2025 and August 29, 2025, between 2:00pm and 3:30pm at No 13, Edun Street, Olowora, Lagos, within the Ikeja Magisterial District.
Count 1 of the charge bordered on conspiracy. The Police alleged that the defendant and others at large conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit stealing, an offence contrary to Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
In Count 2, the prosecution alleged that Egbe and others at large stole a total sum of N8,500,000 belonging to one Gabriel Sunday.
The charge sheet broke down the alleged stolen funds as: N2,500,000 on May 8, 2025; N4,500,000 on June 27, 2025; N1,000,000 on August 14, 2025; and N500,000 on August 29, 2025.
The offence was said to be contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Count 3 alleged obtaining by false pretenses. The Police alleged that with intent to defraud, the defendant and others at large obtained the sum of N8,500,000 from Gabriel Sunday and sent a fake working visa of Luxembourg to deceive him.
This, according to the charge, is contrary to and punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
In Count 4, the defendant was accused of forgery. The prosecution alleged that Egbe and others at large forged an offer of employment, travelling document and working visa of Luxembourg for the purpose of deceiving Gabriel Sunday.
The offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The case was prosecuted by SP Josephine Ihkayere. The IPO in the matter was ASP Muibat Aiyedun of Isheri Police Station.
However, she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove the allegations.
The presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A.Owolabi, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment.
Magistrate Owolabi ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody at the Kirikiri Correctional Center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
Legal experts say cases of fake foreign job and visa scams have continued to rise in Lagos, with many unsuspecting Nigerians losing millions of Naira to fraudsters who promise overseas employment.
The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the Court of competent jurisdiction