Two women –Blessing Anuwa, 28; and Elizabeth Aloya, 33, on Tuesday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos, over alleged ₦360 million fraud.

The defendants were charged with conspiracy, stealing, unlawful conversion, giving false information to pervert the course of justice and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ikhayere, said that the defendants and others still at large, sometime in January, 2023 at Aboru area, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos, committed the offences.

Ms Ikhayere alleged that the defendants unlawfully converted the sum of ₦180 million belonging to Samuel Falade, and another ₦180 million belonging to Babatunde Olushola, to their personal use.

She further alleged that Anuwa, on April 25, 2026, at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, submitted a statement with a fake signature in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.

The prosecutor said that Anuwa falsely claimed that she was poisoned and later died while receiving medical treatment in China, in a bid to conceal her whereabouts and frustrate investigations.

She also alleged that Aloya, while allegedly hiding in an hotel in the Bashorun area of Ibadan, Oyo State, falsely claimed that she had travelled to the United Kingdom in order to pervert the cause of justice.
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The prosecution further alleged that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace.

According to her, the offences contravene Sections 97(3),168(1)(d), 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Lateef .A. Owolabi granted each of defendant bail in the sum of ₦10 million with two sureties each and evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned until July 28, for further hearing. 

(NAN)