KINGSLEY EBERE
Police operatives from the Commissioner of Police Special Squad 2 in Lagos State have arrested a lady, Helen Nwachukwu, for allegedly seducing a businessman, Onyebumuo Elobuike and swindling him of N150m under false pretence.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between May and September, 2024, at Joy Avenue, Ajao Estate, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the lady seduced the complainant and told him that she wanted to sell Garden Hotel and they negotiated for it. She provided a Union Bank account number: 0213614796, New Crest Global Resources Limited, for the victim to pay the money.
However, after the complainant paid the money, she bolted away and disconnected every communication she had with him.
The matter was reported to the Police. The Police operatives moved into action, eventually arrested and detained the suspect for interrogation over her alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found her culpable and asked her to refund the money but she claimed that she had already spent it and will not be able to refund the money.
She was consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT:”That you, Helen Nwachukwu ‘f’ and others at large between May and September, 2024 at Joy Avenue, Ajao Estate, Oshodi/Isolo Local government Area, Lagos in the Lagos magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: obtaining by false pretense and stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Helen Nwachukwu, ‘f’ on the same date, and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, with intent to dupe, did induce one Onyebumuo Elobuike ‘m’ to deposit the sum of N150,000,000.00) into a Union Bank account number: 0213614796, New Crest Global Resources Limited, under the pretense of selling Garden Hotel to him, which you never did, a representation knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Section 314 (1)(a)(b) and punishable under Section 314 (3) of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT III:” That you, Helen Nwachukwu, ‘f’ on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did dishonestly steal N150,000,000.00) that was paid into a Union Bank account number: 0213614796, titled New Crest Global Resource Limited and subsequently converted the above stated amount into your personal use, property of one Onyebumuo Elobuike and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 (a)(b) and punishable under Section 287 of the criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, she pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, 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. M.O.Tanimola, 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.
