A 24-year old man, Miracle Ehiagwuna, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly posing as a Nollywood Actor, Chigozie Afunya and duping a Lady, Ushie Rose, to the tune of N26.8m under false pretence of producing movies for her.
It was reported that the incident happened between September, 2023 and July, 2024, at Igbalu area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect and others now at large conspired and presented himself as the Nollywood actor, Mr. Afunya and obtained the money under false pretence and the victim later realized that it was a scam and reported to the Police who then trailed and arrested him for interrogation.
During the interrogation, the suspect admitted to have collected the money, had spent and as such had no money to refund the victim.
The Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
Part of the charges read:
That you, Miracle Ehiagwuna, ‘m’ and others at large, sometime between September, 2023, to July, 2024 at Igbalu area of Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial istrict, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Obtaining under false pretence, impersonation, stealing and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and Punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II: That you Miracle Ehiagwuna, ‘m’ and other at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did impersonate one Chigozie Afuanya ‘m’ a Nollywood actor, using it as an advantage to obtain money from people and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and Punishable under Section 77(a)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT III: That you, Miracle Ehlagwuna, ‘m’ and others still at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did obtain by false pretence the sum of Twenty-six million, eight hundred thousand Naira (N26,800,000.00) from one Ushie Rose ‘f under the pretence of finishing the production of his movies and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and Punishable under Section 314(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT IV: That you, Miracle Ehiagwuna ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Twenty-six million, eight hundred thousand Naira (N26,800,000.00) from one Ushie Rose ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 280 and Punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, 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 Chief Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, 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.
Micheal has over 5 years experience in digital journalism. He’s a New Media Expert with an interest in Human Development and Global Politics.
