A 46-year old woman, Eshaf Mandu, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling Thrive Microfinance Bank to the tune of N2m with dud cheque.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 21st September, 2025, at the Isheri Road, Aguda Ogba area of Lagos, where the bank is located.
According to the Police, the suspect went to the bank and collected a loan to the tune of the said amount with the promise to pay at a particular time and the loan was granted.
However, when it was time for her to refund the money as they agreed, she prepared and gave the bank cheque for the payment of the loan. But when the bank went to withdraw the money, it was discovered that she had no money in the account.
The matter was reported to the Police at Area G Command Ogba, Lagos. The Police moved into action, eventually arrested and detained the suspect at the Command for interrogation over her alleged conduct against the complainant.
While being interrogated, the Police found her culpable for wilfully giving the dud cheque knowingly that there was no money in the account.
She was then charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I:-“That you, Eshaf Mandu ‘F’ and others at large on the 21st September, 2025, at about 1030hrs at Thrive Microfinance Bank, situated at Isheri Road, Aguda, in Ogba Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit obtaining credit under false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal law, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:-“That you, Eshaf Mandu’ and others still at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did obtain credit of two million Naira only (N2,000,000.00) from Thrive Microfinance Bank and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321(b) and punishable under Section 315 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you. Eshaf Mandu ‘F’, and others still at large on the same date, time and piace in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did obtain credit from Thrive Microfinance Bank and presented a cheque which was later dishonoured by the bank on the ground of insufficient funds and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 321(b) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT IV:”That you, Eshaf Mandu ‘F, and others still at large on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did steal the sum of two million naira only (N2,000,000.00), property of Thrive Microfinance Bank and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, she pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, Supol Philip Ademigbuji, 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, Mrs. O. Kusanu, 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 she will perfect her bail conditions.