Court remands 40-year-old woman over N30m scam

The Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, on Tuesday, remanded 40-year-old Chioma Okoye for allegedly stealing N30m under the pretence of coordinating a thrift contribution.

She was arraigned by the Lagos State Police Command before Magistrate O.Y. Adefope.

She was charged with three counts of behaving in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by sending obnoxious voice notes, fraudulent acts, and theft.

The charges alleged that on December 23, 2023, at the Banana Island area of Lagos, the defendant fraudulently took the sum of N30m under the pretence of coordinating a contribution from Danjuma Caroline and further sent obnoxious voice notes to threaten the complainant.

PUNCH Metro reports that the victim reported that Okoye and two others conspired to extort the sum of N40,000,000 from her under the pretence of executing a project, which turned out to be false.

It was also discovered that Okoye owed the sum of N70m for breach of contract and had diverted the money for personal use. Before the report was made, all efforts to reach the defendant proved abortive, our correspondent learnt.

Prosecutor Haruna Magaji informed the court that the alleged offences were committed on December 23, 2023, in the Banana Island area of Lagos.

He stated that the alleged offences contravened and are punishable under Sections 314(1)(a), 280(1)(a)(b), and 168(d) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

He also stated that the receipt of the transaction, the recorded voice note, and the statement of the complainant serve as evidence against the defendant.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against her but Magistrate O.Y. Adefope ordered a bail bond of N500,000 to be paid and two sureties to be provided.

The case was adjourned until July 10, 2024, for further hearing.