Female Lawyer Charged With N3.5m Fraud

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The Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos Island, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, have arrested and arraigned a female legal practitioner, Charity Ekpiwhere, before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, on a three-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence.

The police prosecutor alleged that the accused was arrested following a petition written by Barrister Apeiye Becon Clement on behalf of his client Alhaji Sulaiman Lateef that the accused on 14 July and 3 October, 2009 at Egbeda, Lagos, presented herself as a land agent to his client, a presentation she knew full well to be false and obtained the sum of N3.5 million from him.

Clement also alleged that the accused forged a Deed of Assignment in favour of his client, knowing full well that it was not a genuine document and used same to obtain the sum of N3.5 million from him.

All efforts by his client to recover the money, he stated, proved futile.

After investigation, she was charged to court for stealing the sum of N3.5 million.

The offences, according to the prosecutor S. Molo, contravene Sections 312(1) (a), 285 and 363, laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

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One of the charges reads: “That you Charity Ekpiwhere on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did steal the sum of N3.5 million, property of Alhaji Sulaiman Lateef.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to her in the open court and the presiding magistrate, Mrs. F. O. Aigbokhaebo, admitted her on bail in the sum of N500,000 on self recognition.

The magistrate directed that the accused’s office and address be verified by the prosecutor.

She adjourned the matter till 1 April for mention.

—Paul Iyoghojie

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