KINGSLEY EBERE
A 48-year old woman, Ann Adeyemo, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly conspiring with a company known as BTC-Mall and swindling a man, Valentine Chijioke Ene, to the tune of N2.775m under false pretence.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Beesam area of Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos.
Ann Adeyemo was said to have collected the money under the false pretence of investing it on an undisclosed business transaction, which turned out to be a scam.
According to the Police, Ann approached the victim, Ene and lured him into bringing the money in question to invest on the business with good profit as returns. He believed her and gave her the said money.
However, after giving her the money, there was no refund of the money nor profit as she had promised. Not convinced, he asked her to refund his money but she declined.
The matter was reported to the Police at Airport Division. The suspect, Ann, was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over her alleged conduct. At the station, she admitted to have collected the money and invested on an undisclosed business.
The Police asked her to refund the money as a way to make peace between the parties. But she claimed that she had spent the money and had no money to refund.
The Police found her culpable and consequently charged her before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
Part of the charges read:
” That you, Ann Adeyemo ‘f’, between 3rd September, 2024 and 6 September, 2024, at Beesam Area, Mafoluku, Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire with BTC-Mall with intent to defraud one Valentine Chijioke Ene ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 325 (1) of the Criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
” That you, Ann Adeyemo ‘f and others at large, on the same date and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did defraud one Valentine Chijioke Ene ‘m’ the sum of N2,755,000 under the pretence of investing the money in an investment company, a representation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 314 (a) (b) and punishable under Section 314 (3) of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
“That you, Ann Adeyemo ‘f’ and others at large, on the same date and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal the sum of N2,755,000 property of Valentine Chijioke Ene ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 (1) (a) (b) and punishable under Section 287 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, 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. B.O. Osunsanmi, 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.