Lagos Man Bags a 3-Year Jail Term for Alleged N27 million Fraud

 

Lagos state is known for the "hustle" for money attitute. Alot of Lagosians live in utmost desperation to make money at all costs. This has led to criminal activities being rampant in the highly populated city of Lagos.

A fresh case of fraud involving a man called Emmanuel Osita was brought before a Justice named Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja yesterday; Monday, the 22nd of June, 2015. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment on a tow count charge of obtaining money by false pretence.

He culprit was arraigned in court after being arrested by the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC after a petion from a legal practitioner for one Mrs Veronica Okonkwo who happens to be one 81-year old woman.

The convicts while operating as a commercial tri-cyclist conspired with other persons who are still at large and falsely represented to the victim that they had the capacity to produce local and foreign currencies from pieces of papers by dipping them into mercury.

Osita and his accomplices hoodwinked the 81-year-old woman to let go the sum of N120, 000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) as registration fee with a mercury company prior to the procurement of the chemical.

The octogenarian was also induced to sell her property in Festac Town Lagos for N27 million and the proceeds appropriated by the convict and his co-travellers.

After his arrest, he pleaded guilty in court after being arraigned on the 1st of July, 2014. He made restitution to the victim. The N27 million house was recovered from the orginal buyer and given back to the 81 year old woman.
Due to his plea of guilt and restitution with his victim, Justice Lawal Akapo gave him a reduced jail term of 3 years with no option of fine.

It is strongly hoped he learns some lessons behind bars and come out as a better person.