MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 42-year old man, Lucky Azaimeh, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a man, Ikechukwu Nkeonye, to the tune of N10m under the false pretence of purchasing an auctioned vehicle from the EFCC, which turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened in January 2025 at Gowon Estate, Egbeda area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect contacted the complainant, presented himself as Godwin Ogodilor and asked him to bring the money to buy the vehicle from the EFCC.
The victim paid the money with the intention that it was genuine and he was dealing with Godwin Ogodilor only to later discover that it was a fraud.
The matter was reported to the Police at Area M Command, Idimu. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested the suspect and detained him at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, Lucky Azaimeh ‘M’ in the month of January 2025 at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial district, did fraudulently present yourself as Godwin Ogodilor ‘M’ on phone conversation to one Ikechukwu Nkeonye ‘M’ with intention to defraud him and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 380(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Lucky Azaimeh ‘M’ in same Month, Year and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain the sum of Ten Million Naira from one Ikechukwu Nkeonye ‘M’ under the pretence that you are going to buy auctioned vehicle from the EFCC for him knowing this to be false and untrue and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Lucky Azaimeh ‘M’ in same Month, Year and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal a sum of Ten Million Naira being property of one Ikechukwu Nkeonye ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. A.K. Dosumu-Uthman, granted him 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 26th May, 2025, 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.
