A 25-year-old tailor, Victoria Effiong, was arraigned on Friday before a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Iba for allegedly refusing to marry a suitor after collecting N2.8m 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 occurred on September 25, 2024, at 10 a.m. at Ajanaku Street, Isashi.
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 further told the court that while the defendant was dating Asuquo, she obtained an iPhone worth N240,000, different clothes, a wristwatch, shoes and bags valued at N350,000.
He also said that the complainant gave the defendant a cash sum of N810,000, N4000, daily feeding money for seven months worth N868,000.
“Effiong also withdrew N300,000 from Asuquo’s ATM account for shopping,” Njoku added.
We learnt that the situation escalated when Asuquo discovered that Effiong was planning to marry another man, despite having introduced him earlier to her parents, who were aware of their relationship.
Effiong, however, denied the relationship, claiming Asuquo knew she was dating someone else.
She admitted to receiving the iPhone, a smaller phone worth N20,000, money, and other items but insisted that she had told Asuquo to stop sending her money because she was uncomfortable with it.
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.
“One of the sureties must be a blood relative, show proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and have their address verified,” the magistrate ruled.
The case was adjourned until November 28, 2024, for mention.
