12th September, 2012
A Lagos-base company, West Gate Nigeria Limited, has lost 100 laptops worth N8.5 million to a suspected fraudster at Computer Village in Ikeja, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
The suspect, Anthony Uche, who claimed to be a conductor was arrested by detectives from SCID, Panti, Yaba and charged to Ebute Emeta Magistrate’s court for obtaining and stealing and was remanded in prison custody.
The Anambra State-born Uche reportedly approached the company manager and requested for 100 pieces of laptops and demanded for the company’s bank account to pay in the money.
The manager gave him all the details and the company account number at GTB.
Later, Uche sent a fake alert to the manager’s phone number indicating that he had paid N15 million into the company account, whereas he only hacked the alert and did not pay any money into the account.
He reportedly took delivery of the goods, only for the company to discover later that it was fake alert Uche sent.
The matter was reported at SCID, Panti, Yaba and Uche was arrested and charged to court for obtaining and stealing under section 409 and 25w of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State 2011. He pleaded not guilty.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M. O. Olajuwon admitted him to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till 10 October 2012, while he was remanded in prison custody pending when he meets his bail condition.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe