MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 38-year old woman, Blessing Chidinma Nwabuike, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a man, Magnus Chinedu Umeaku and arranging suspected thugs to kill him over N6m which she borrowed from him.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Gowon Estate, Egbeda area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect borrowed the money, deposited a Mercedes Benz as collateral and promised to pay back the money within an agreed period.
But she was said to have reportedly gone to where the Mercedes Benz was parked, removed it, changed location and disconnected every communication she had with the complainant.
When the complainant eventually traced her, she arranged with thugs and attacked him before he managed to escape.
The matter was reported to the Police. She was then arrested and detained at the Gowon Estate Division for interrogation over her alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found her culpable and consequently charged her before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT 1: “That you, Blessing Chidinma Nwabuike and others now at large on the 20th of February, at Gowen Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho LGA, in the Lagos Magisterial district, did conspire among yourself to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offence punishabte under Section 411 of the Criminat Laws of Lages State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT2: “That you, Blessing Chidinma Nwabuike and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did steal the sum of Six million Naira only (N6,000,000) from one Magnus Chinedu Umeaku, which you collected to return back after some months, but instead you changed your address and switched off your phones and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT3:”That you, Blessing Chidinma Nwabuike and others now at large on the same date, time and place at about 10:55hrs in the aforementioned Magistrial district, did threaten to kill Mr. Magnus Chinedu Umeaku when he came to demand for his money and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 56 (1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagu State.”
COUNT IV:” That you, Blessing Chidinma Nwabuike and others now at large on the same date, time and place, did defraud the sum of six million naira only (N6,000,000) from one Mr. Magnus Chinedo Umeaku by removing the Mercedes Benz where it was parked as a collateral to an unknown place and the offense is punishable under Section 354 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015″
COUNT V: “That you, Blessing Chidinma Nwabuike and others now at large on the same date, time and place, did conduct yourselves in a marmer likely to cause breach of public peace by beating Magnus Chinedu Umeaku who asked for his money and thereby committed an offence punishable under the Criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.A.Popoola, granted her bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 14th April, 2025, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.