Doctor in Court for duping a woman of N66.9m

Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, has remanded a self-styled doctor, Innocent Chukwu, and a woman, Mrs. Obiageli Anachebe, who allegedly defrauded a businesswoman of a total sum of N66,900,000.00.

Justice Ipaye made the order following the defendants’ not guilty plea and adjourned till October 14, for the hearing of their bail applications.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Chukwu, alias Dr. Ohamadike, and Anachebe on a five-count charge with No. ID/1332C/2015, bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretences, stealing by fraudulent conversion and concealment of the deed.

It said the defendants, with intent to defraud, obtained N50,000,000.00 from a businesswoman, Mrs. Vivian Amadi, “under the false pretence that they were capable of solving all her problems by spiritual means,” knowing the representation to be false.

The Commission also alleged that Chukwu dishonestly obtained and concealed title documents of a building situated at No. 4, Nteje Street, New Haven, Enugu, valued at N35, 000,000.00 property of Amadike.

The anti-graft agency, represented by its counsel, Mr. Kunle Fayanju, said both alleged offences were committed between October and December 2013, in Lagos.

It added that Chukwu, on or about February 14, 2014, dishonestly converted the sum of N16, 900,000.00 property of Amadike and Pamela Ihediwa of Bluebeam Capital Ltd, Lagos.

Chukwu, the Commission said, obtained the sum by claiming to have for sale, a United States dollar equivalent of the N16.9m “which representation he knew to be false and dishonest.”

According to the Commission, the offences contravened Section 8(a) and 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and Sections 285(9)(c) and 288 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.