17th February, 2016
Cyriacus Izuekwe
There was drama at the Isolo Magistrates’ court on Tuesday following the arrest of a manager and two staff members of a business network company who allegedly defrauded over 400 traders at various markets in Lagos State, western Nigeria.
Following the report of the arrest, the affected traders besieged the court premises asking for the refund of their money which runs into millions of naira.
Their presence at the court caused a rowdy scene before the Magistrate sat and brought the situation under control.
The manager, Omoefe Daniel and his two workers, Godwin Monday and a female, Favour Ogechi, allegedly visited markets in Lagos and introduced what they called a business network to assist the traders to acquire electronic gadgets.
They reportedly perfected their plan using a company’s name called Easy-Step Inclusive Nigeria Limited and collected huge sums of money from the affected traders.
Some of the markets they went to are Ladipo, Daleko, Alaba, Ojuoye, Oke-odo, Ikotun and many others.
However, after the traders contributed the money, Daniel and his workers allegedly disappeared into thin air with the money and did not supply any gadgets to the victims.
They had been hiding until Ogechi was sighted at Daleko market and was apprehended and handed over to the police at Itire division.
The arrest of Ogechi led to the arrest of Godwin and Monday.
They were taken to court and charged with obtaining under false pretence and stealing under the Criminal Code.
Some of the traders who spoke to our reporter said they were shocked about the manner they were defrauded using a registered company’s name to do so.
Sunday Chinedu who spoke on behalf of other traders at the court premises, said the suspects came to their market and introduced their company’s business plan to the traders.
He said they asked the traders to choose any electronic gadget of their choice and they would supply them and give them credit facility that will last for six months.
He said that the workers would collect the money in instalment until the traders finished the payment.
He said most of the victims applied for TVs, refrigerators and other household electrical appliances and they demanded little payment to show their commitment.
He said some traders paid between N60,000 to N100,000 and Daniel and his team promised to supply the gadgets. But that was the last time the traders saw them since last year.
Chinedu said when they went to Daniel’s office at Ondo Plaza, Trade Fair complex, they were told that they had vacated the place after the scam.
Daniel who confirmed that they collected money from the traders at various markets denied that it was a fraud.
He explained that they had challenges of importing the items the traders requested.
When the suspects were arraigned, they pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs A. O. Adedayo granted Daniel bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Monday and Ogechi were granted bail in the sum of N300,000 and N200,000 respectively with two sureties in like sum.
They were remanded in prison custody pending when they will perfect their bail.
The matter was adjourned till 23 March, 2016.