25th July, 2012
A 23-year old man, Austin Giwa, was on Monday charged before an Egor Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Benin City, southsouth Nigeria, for allegedly duping his fiancée of the sum of N400, 000 under false pretence of procuring documents for her to travel to the United States of America.
Thomas Omokaro, who led the prosecution, accused Mr. Giwa of committing the offence between June and December 2010 around S and T Road, Uselu, Benin City, after he allegedly collected two passport photographs from the unsuspecting girl, Joy Aibangbee.
Besides, the accused person was also charged for stealing the sum of N400,000 from the victim.
While testifying in the case, Miss Aibangbee said the accused person collected the money in different installments at various times, after which he took her to Oshodi in Lagos state, southwest Nigeria, to introduce her to his aunt who would perfect her trip abroad.
According to her, on getting to Oshodi, the accused person pretended to be putting calls through to his aunt and eventually requested that they return to Benin City having failed to locate the aunt.
Joy further testified that following the accused person’s request she sensed that he had some sinister moves, which forced her to raise an alarm.
Counsel to the accused person, Efosa Okoro, applied for a date within which to study the case file as he had just been briefed by the accused person to handle the matter for him.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Taiye Omoruyi consequently adjourned the matter till 13 August, 2012 for further hearing.
By Jethro Ibileke, Benin