A 25-year old lady, Victoria Effiong, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly collecting the sum of N2.8m from a man, Dominic Asuquo and still refused to get married to him.
It was reported that the embittered Asuquo has handed her over to the Police for the alleged fraud and she has been arraigned before the Lagos State Magistrate Court in Iba for allegedly refusing to get married to a suitor after collecting N2.8m from him.
The lady, Miss Effiong, who is a tailor, is facing three count charges of conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, cheating and obtaining by false pretence.
The prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Njoku, told the court that the incident happened on 25th September, 2024, at Ajanaku Street, Isashi area of Lagos, she collected the money and still dumped Asuquo for another lover.
Njoku said, “Effiong unlawfully cheated the complainant, Dominic Asuquo, by obtaining the sum of N2,866,000 under the pretence of agreeing to get married to him, but she failed to do so”.
The prosecutor also told the Court that while the lady was dating Asuquo, she obtained an iPhone worth N240,000, different clothes, a wristwatch, shoes and bags valued at N350,000.
He also said that the complainant gave the defendant a cash sum of N810,000, N4000, daily feeding money for seven months worth N868,000.
“Effiong also withdrew N300,000 from Asuquo’s account for shopping,” Njoku added.
According to the Police, the alleged scam got exposed when Asuquo discovered that Effiong was planning to get married to another man despite having introduced him earlier to her parents, who were aware of their relationship.
However, the lady, Effiong, denied the relationship, claiming Asuquo knew she was dating someone else. She admitted to have received the iPhone, a smaller phone worth N20,000, money, and other items but insisted that she had told Asuquo to stop sending her money because she was uncomfortable with it.
The prosecutor alleged that the lady committed the offence punishable under Sections 168, (1d), 322, and 314 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
She pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Njoku, 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 O. M. Ogun, granted her bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum and one of the sureties must be a blood relative, show proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and have their address verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 28th November,2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.
Micheal has over 5 years experience in digital journalism. He’s a New Media Expert with an interest in Human Development and Global Politics.