Police Charge 25-Year-Old Woman for Allegedly Refusing Marriage After Accepting Wigs, iPhone, Designer Bag, and Other Items Valued at N2.8M

The police in Lagos State arraigned a 25-year-old tailor named Victoria Effiong before a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Iba on Friday, October 4, for allegedly refusing to marry a suitor after collecting N2.8 million and other items from him.

Effiong is facing three charges related to breach of peace, cheating, and obtaining by false pretenses.

According to Punch, the police prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Njoku, informed the court that the incident took place on September 25, 2024, at 10 a.m. on Ajanaku Street in Isashi.

‘’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 informed the court that while the defendant was dating Asuquo, she obtained an iPhone valued at N240,000, as well as various clothes, a wristwatch, shoes, and bags totaling N350,000.

He also stated that the complainant had given Effiong a cash sum of N810,000, along with daily feeding money for seven months amounting to N868,000.

The situation escalated when Asuquo discovered that Effiong was planning to marry another man, despite having introduced him to her parents, who were aware of their relationship.

“Effiong also withdrew N300,000 from Asuquo’s ATM account for shopping,” Njoku added

The defendant, who was arraigned before Magistrate Mrs. O. M. Ogun, pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

In her defense, Effiong denied being in any relationship with Asuquo and claimed that he was aware she was seeing someone else.

She acknowledged 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 felt uncomfortable with it.

According to the prosecutor, the offenses committed are punishable under Sections 168(1d), 322, and 314(2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.

Magistrate Ogun granted her bail set at N200,000 with two sureties in a similar amount.

“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 has been adjourned until November 28, 2024, for mention.