Woman Swindled Of N4.5m While Attempting To Get Tax Clearance Through Back Door

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A woman, Mrs. Akintayo Doyinsola, has been swindled to the tune of over N4.5m after she paid the money to a man, Felix Onyekachi, to assist her to bring down the price for her tax clearance in Lagos State. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the 31-year old Onyekachi has been arrested and charged for the alleged offence.

The incident happened at Ogba area of Lagos.

Eventually, the suspect did not bring down the price of the tax clearance, nor refund the money, rather he bolted away with the money and disconnected every communication he had with her.

The matter was reported to the Police at Area G Command, Ogba and the suspect was arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.

After interrogation, the Police found him culpable as it was discovered that he did not know who will even reduce the price of the tax clearance as he had claimed and had spent the money for his own use.

He was consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged conspiracy and obtaining under false pretence which attracts several years of imprisonment.

The charges read:

“That you, Felix Onyekachi on the 4th, 7th and 15th day of October, 2024 at about 1800hrs at Ogba in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of one Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira only (₩1,800,000.00) from one Akintayo Doyinsola ‘f’ under the pretence of helping her for tax clearance and the sum of Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N450,000.00) only from one Adeyemi Olubusola ‘f under the pretence of getting her video and photo coverage, a presentation you know to be false and thereby committed and offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 314 (1-a) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

COUNT II:-“That you, Felix Onyekachi and others now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N2,250,000.00) only, money for the tax clearance property of one Mrs. Akintayo Doyinsola ‘F’ and thereby committed an offence, punishable under Section 287 (5) (a) of the Criminal Law, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”

However, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing for the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence that brought him before the Court.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted him 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 he will perfect his bail conditions.