22nd June, 2011
A 71-year old woman, Mrs. Chinyere Madu has been sent to Kirikiri prison Apapa, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria for alleged fraud.
The grand mother and a widow was alleged to have defrauded a businessman, Sylvester Okoye of N5 million under false pretence.
The landlady was alleged to have used her late husband’s house located at 4th Avenue, Festac Town Lagos to defraud Sylvester of the amount under false pretence of selling the house to him. The police claimed she conspired with her son, Udochukwu, who is now on the run, to commit the crime.
P.M.NEWS gathered that after the payment Chinyere rented the apartment to a tenant and relocated to her home town in Owerri, Imo State.
She did not relinquish her ownership of the three bedroom flat. She did not give back Sylvester his money either.
It took the intervention of the police who went to Imo State, arrested her and brought her back to Lagos.
She was charged to Igbosere Magistrate’s court for fraud under section 419 of the criminal code 2003.
When the matter came up at the court, she pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Inspector Osijale asked the court not to grant her bail because she had jumped bail three times.
He said if she was granted bail she may escape.