MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from the Lagos State Command have arrested four suspects for allegedly conspiring and swindling a man, Isa Raji, to the tune of N55,000, 000, under the false pretence of procuring Lagos State University certificate and visa to travel to Canada for greener pastures but it turned out to be a scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects, Barakat Ayomide ‘f, 28, Ibrahim Tajudeen Olayori ‘m’, 35, Fathia Adetori ‘m, 30 and Ezekiel Oyewole ‘m’, 41, have been arrested and charged for the alleged conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence, forgery and stealing.
The incident happened in Shasha area of Alimosho LG A, sometime in 2023 when the suspects collected the money.
They allegedly forged the whole documents including the LASU certificate and gave to the complainant to travel abroad. The complainant however, later discovered that they were fake as he was unable to travel. When he tried to contact the suspects, they all went into hiding and disconnected every communication they had with him.
The matter was reported to the Police at Shasha Division. The Police operatives trailed the suspects, eventually arrested and detained them at the station for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found them culpable and consequently charged them before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT 1: “That you, Barakat Ayomide ‘f, Ibrahim Tajudeen Olayori ‘m’, Fathia Adetori ‘m’ and Ezekiel Oyewole ‘m’, and one other now at large, sometime in the year 2023, within the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Obtaining Money under false pretence, Forgery and stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Barakat Ayomide ‘f, Ibrahim Tajudeen Olayori ‘m’ and Fathia Adetoti ‘P’, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did collect the sum of N55,000,000:00 (Fifty five Million Naira) only, under false pretence of procuring visa to Canada for one Isa Raji ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Barakat Ayomide ‘f and Ezekiel Oyewole ‘m’ and one other now at large, on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district, did forge Lagos State University Identity Card and certificate respectively and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 (3) and punishable under Section 365 (3) (G) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
COUNT IV: “That you, Barakat Ayomide ‘f, Ibrahim Tajudeen Olayori ‘m’ and Fathia Adetoti ‘f’ , on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district, did steal the sum of Fifty five million Naira (55,000,000.00) only, property of one Isa Raji ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Njue, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.A. Popoola, granted them bail in the sum of N5m 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 for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
