A 49-year old woman, Rose Oluwagbenga Obi, has opted to go to prison than to refund the sum of N20m, which she got from allegedly swindling three victims over the false pretence of procuring visas for them in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Police operatives from the Shasha Division of the Lagos State Command arrested the woman for allegedly collecting the money in question under the false pretence of procuring Canadian Working Visa, which later turned out to be a scam.
She was alleged to have obtained the money at Louis Ubebe Street, Coker Estate, Shasha, to procure the visas but was unable to do so as she had promised before collecting the money.
Some of the victims included, Ferdinand Asogwa Udoka, N8.570m, Ezebule Onyekachukwu N2.925m, Patrick Ugwugbu, N8.5m and others.
The Police asked her to refund the money since she was unable to procure the visas as she had promised or she will be charged before the Court and may likely be jailed based on the available evidence.
She was said to have remained adamant and asked the Police to do what they like because she will not refund the money to them if it means going to prison, that she will go and surely come back.
The Police found her culpable and consequently charged her before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged fraud and stealing under the Criminal Laws of the State.
She pleaded not guilty when she was arraigned.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since she pleaded not guilty before Court to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, K.A. Ariyo, granted her bail in the sum of N2m 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 11th October, 2024, 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.