American businessman sent to prison for duping Partner $10,000

Paul Iyoghojie

An American-based Nigerian businessman, Charles Nnadi, 56, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly obtaining the sum of $10,000 from one Aliyu Ahamad with the pretext of exchanging the dollars to N3 million equivalent for him, but allegedly converted the dollars to his use and failed to fulfill the promise.

The accused was arrested by the operatives of the Interpol section of the Federal Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, FCIID, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos and charged before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos on a two-count charge of felony to wit, obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.

Police Counsel, Supol Henry Obiazi informed the court in charge No A57/2018 that the accused committed the alleged offence in July, 2017 in Agege.

Obiazi told the court that the complainant reported to the police that the accused tricked him on the phone from U.S.A to transfer the sum of $10,000 into his U.S.A bank account with the promise to pay him back with the sum of N3 million, but that after the accused received the dollars, he converted it to his use and failed to remit the Naira equivalent to him till date.

Obiazi said that following a petition by the complainant, detectives swung into action and placed a red alert on the accused’s bank account in Nigeria, adding that the accused was arrested at a bank in Nigeria when he sneaked into the country recently from his base in U.S.A to withdraw money from his account.

He said the offences, the accused committed were punishable under sections 411 and 341 (3) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the alleged crime in the open court and Chief Magistrate O.O Folashade Oshin granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.

Oshin adjourned the case till 22 July, 2018 for mention and ordered that the defendant be kept at the Ikoyi Prison till he perfected the bail conditions.