31st July, 2012
A 37-year old man, Ezekiel Eledu, who claimed to be a staff of Air Nigeria Plc has been arraigned before an Ejigbo Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly duping job seekers after he promised to give them jobs in the company.
According to the victims, Eledu defrauded more than 41 job seekers of N1.2 million and promised to employ them at Air Nigeria.
Some of the victims defrauded include Sunday Marvin, Alen Tina, Samuel Adebayo, and Anozie Esther.
Others are Iloba Felix, Osagie Francis and Essiet Regina who allegedly lost N270, 000 to Eledu.
Some of the victims who learnt of his arrest besieged the court yesterday to complain that they were also duped by the defendant.
Agbor, Delta State-born Eledu reportedly advertised that Air Nigeria was employing workers and asked job seekers to part with certain amount of money so that they would secure employment.
He allegedly told them that he had the mandate of the management to employ workers but the prospective job seekers must pay him some money.
Eledu who is now in prison custody at Kirikiri went allegedly forged the company’s letter head and signed appointment letters for the victims, telling them that they have been employed.
The matter was blown open when he deployed them to Sokoto State in northwest Nigeria.
This aroused suspicion by the victims that he might be a fraudster.
Some of the victims went to Air Nigeria’s office to find out and the management reportedly told them that such employment did not exist.
They went to Ikotun police station and reported the matter and Eledu was arrested.After investigation, he was arraigned on a six-count charge of forgery, stealing and fraud contrary to sections 323, 361, 278, 312 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
He pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him..
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs M. B. Folami granted him bail in the sum of N700, 000 with two sureties in like sum who must show evidence of means of livelihood and payment of tax.
The matter was adjourned till 22 August, 2012 for mention.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will fulfill the bail condition.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe