19th November, 2023
By Paul Iyoghojie
Operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Alagbon Close, Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria have arrested an Abuja-based medical doctor, Ochoche Ubenyi; 39, and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s court for allegedly obtaining the sum of N3,337,000 from a businesswoman under false pretence.
Police alleged that the defendant collected the money from the complainant, Tonia Chichi with the pretext to help her open a crypto account knowing fully well that his claim was false.
Police further alleged that after the defendant received the money from the complainant, he failed to fulfil the promise and instead converted the money to his use.
Police said that when all efforts by the complainant to retrieve the money from the defendant proved futile, she petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP who referred the matter to the FCID, Alagbon, Lagos for detailed investigation.
Following the referral, crack detectives of the FCID, Alagbon, Lagos swung into action and arrested the defendant and after an investigation by Inspector Dudu Okoh and team, the defendant was charged before the Tinubu Magistrate’s Court on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and stealing.
Police counsel, ASP Amedu Adoga informed the court in the charge marked V/33/2023 that the defendant and one other still at large committed the offence in June 2022 at 3rd Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos.
Adoga told the court that the defendant tricked the complainant and collected the N3,337,000 from her to help her open a crypto account in her name knowing fully well that he was lying and that he was not capable of opening a crypto account for the complainant.
He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under Sections 411, 314(1) and 280(1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and Magistrate Agbona granted him bail and adjourned the case till 1 December 2023 for mention.
Agbona also directed that the defendant be kept at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility till he perfected the bail condition.