From Punch
Victoria Effiong, a 25-year-old tailor, was charged on Friday in a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Iba for allegedly refusing to wed a suitor after receiving N2.8 million from him.
Effiong is facing three counts bordering on breach of peace, cheating and obtaining by false pretence.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Njoku, told the court that
The incident happened at Ajanaku Street, Isashi, on September 25, 2024, at 10 a.m.
Njoku said, “Effiong unlawfully cheated the complainant, Dominic Asuquo, by obtaining the sum of N2,866,000 under the pretext of agreeing to marry him, but she failed to follow through.”
The prosecutor also informed the court that the defendant received various items of clothing, a wristwatch, shoes, and bags valued at N350,000, as well as an iPhone worth N240,000, while she was dating Asuquo.
He added that the complainant gave the defendant N868,000 in cash over the course of seven months, including N810,000, N4000, and daily feeding money.
“Effiong also withdrew N300,000 from Asuquo’s ATM account for shopping,” Njoku added.
After learning that Effiong was going to marry someone else, even though she had already introduced him to her parents, who knew about their relationship, Asuquo became increasingly upset, according to our correspondent.
Effiong, however, denied the relationship, claiming Asuquo knew she was dating someone else.
She acknowledged getting the iPhone, a smaller phone valued at N20,000, cash, and other things, but she maintained that she had told Asuquo to stop giving her money since it made her feel uneasy.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed are punishable under Sections 168, (1d), 322, and 314 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, the defendant who was arraigned before Magistrate Mrs O. M. Ogun, pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.
Magistrate Ogun granted her a bail of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
