Nigerian allegedly defrauds UK-based woman to pay school fees

Mon, Mar 4, 2019 | By publisher


Judiciary

A 25-year-old student, Hassan Kamal, who allegedly defrauded a woman, Zainab Ibrahim, by obtaining the sum of £2,425 from her on the pretext of giving her the naira equivalent, has been arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court.

The defendant, who resides at No. 1 Mosan Lane, Ipaja, Lagos, was arraigned on six counts bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretences.

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Innocent Odugbo, told the court that the accused committed the offences with one other still at large on October 22 and 31, 2018, at Oniwaya, Agege, Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant allegedly defrauded Ibrahim by collecting the sum of £2,425 (N1.04m) from her, under the pretext of giving her the naira equivalent, a representation he knew to be false.

Odugbo said the defendant convinced the complainant, who lives in the United Kingdom, to help him receive money, which was meant for his school fees, from a foreign exchange agent with an assurance of giving her brother the naira equivalent.

He stated, “The complainant received a notification for the payment of £825 and £1,600 into her account, which she transferred to the defendant through Western Union Money Transfer.

“Unknown to the complainant, the payment into her account was fraudulent.”

The charges read in part, “That you, Hassan Kamal, and one other at large, on October 22, 2018, at Oniwaya, Agege, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit; stealing.

“That you, Hassan Kamal, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of £825, equivalent to N370,000, property of one Zainab Ibrahim.

“That you, Hassan Kamal, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of £1,600, equivalent to N674,000, property of one Zainab Ibrahim.”

The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravene sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).

The police prosecutor said Section 287 of the law stipulated a seven-year jail term for stealing, while Section 314 prescribed a 15-year jail term for obtaining under false pretences.

Kamal, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs S. K. Matepo, granted the defendant N200,000 bail with two responsible sureties in like sum.

Matepo said the sureties must be gainfully employed with evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified by the court.

She added that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction. The magistrate adjourned the case till March 13, 2019, for hearing. – Punch

– Mar. 4, 2019 @ 7:55 GMT |

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