By Eberechi Obinagwam
UK based Nigerian, Mary has testified before Lagos High court how she was duped by one Chijioke of her £70, 000.
She stated this before the presiding judge of a Lagos state special offences court, Justice S O Solebo, that she got to know Chijioke through her friend, Yemi in the United Kingdom.
She narrated that her friend, Mrs Yemi invited her to her house and introduced her to Chijioke, telling her that he runs a business and that she should invest in it.
Mary testified to the court that when her friend asked her to invest in the business, she told the friend that the £35,000 she had with her is what she wanted to use to buy land in Lagos, Nigeria.
But her friend, Yemi asked her to go ahead and invest in his business that she should not worry that Chijioke lives with her.
When she asked of a written receipt, letter head, or licence of his company that she is investing in as proof, her friend told her not to worry that Chijioke will take her to the company.
But Yemi told her that the idea of introducing the business to her was a gesture to help her as a single mother so that at least she will get more to cater for her family.
When the UK based woman insisted on a receipt, her friend told her that Chijioke has a money transfer licence company and that he is also a barrister in UK.
Chijioke assured her that the investment of her £35, 000 will be coming with juicy interest that she would get.
With all the trusted words from her friend, Mary was convinced and gave out her £35, 000 cash to Chijioke right in front of her friend, Mrs Yemi in her house without a receipt.
As days go by, Mary waited for him to take her to the company, he never did but kept on posting her.
She recalled that sometimes in April, 2015, Chijoke came to her and requested another£35,000 that she should give him so that the money can come together in the next two weeks.
This time, Mary did not have the money in cash to give so she demanded for his account so that she can do transfer.
Chijioke gave her two accounts (Califhat and Naquest bank, UK) of which she transferred to NAQUEST bank.
She said the first transfer she made was £15, 000, £10, 000 and another £10, 000 pounds, making a total of £35, 000.
Quarrel started when the two weeks passed and she didn’t get her money. Every time she asked for her money, he kept posting her, telling her that the money is coming from Nigeria and at a point he stopped picking her calls.
Mary, not knowing what to do ran back to her friend Yemi that introduced her to him to explain things to her but the least expected happened.
“When I got to Yemi’s house, I knocked and knocked but she did not open the door. I peeped through her window and saw her looking at me as I was knocking but she didn’t come out to open nor did she say anything to me.
“I busted into tears. Crying at her door. A divorced woman with four children, where will I go from here?
“It was then that I realised that I have been duped and dumped. So, I called my friend David. He came and took me to the law chamber where Chijioke claims he works as a Barrister. People know him because he parades around as a Barrister with a name (Minister),” she said in tears.
Explaining further, she said that when they got to the head of practice of the law chamber, they met one Joe and the Joe told them that Minister, that is Chijioke, is not a Barrister but a mere clerk in the court. That he will take them to him because so many people have been coming to look for him here.
Joe gave them appointment so they can meet with Chijoke face to face. When they met him, he pleaded to them all that he has requested for the money to come from Nigeria where he is doing his business, that at the end of November he will give her the money.
November came, there was no response from him.
“Later, a friend called me and asked if I was aware that Chijoke has signed a bankruptcy? And I said no. Later again, information came that he was in Nigeria. So, I borrowed money from a friend to come to Nigeria in search of him. I looked for him but I did not see him.
“As I was looking for him here in Nigeria, I got a call from somebody asking me if I knew that Chijioke has opened a Law firm, and has also used my money to build a house in Ugwuta and has tared the road leading to the house?.
“I didn’t know what to do. I had a very natural long hair. All was just falling. I was going through depression of divorce before this incident so it grew worse. I was fat before but see me now,” she said in tears.
At a depressed state, with no money to feed herself and four children not to talk of hiring a lawyer for her case, she resolved into writing petitions so that they can help her get back her money.
She said she came back to Nigeria and wrote to EFCC, ICPC, and Interpol for justice to prevail.
On the 10th of April, 2017, the victim said that she saw Chijioke at the local Airport with his girl friend while she was going to Eleme, Port Harcourt to see her sick mother.
The victim said that Chijioke spat on her mouth at the airport and said to her: “You think EFCC will do me anything? They arrested me and I am out. My uncle is very rich and they have given them money. You think this is UK?
“He raised his hands on me at the airport that he will kill me here and EFCC will not do him anything. He told me that his family is there in Eleme, Port Harcourt that he will finish me.”
With all the threatening, Mary cried aloud before the court that Chijoke should be held responsible if anything happens to her.
Responding to the petitions she sent, she said Interpol called from UK and gave her a crime number before they said that EFCC has arrested Chijioke.
“Interpol was searching all over, they went to Lagos law school where they got information where he was. They arrested him and shut down the law firm he opened in UK.
“At his arrest, he agreed that he duped me and that there was no business or firm as he claimed to own,” she said.
When they asked her in court what she wanted, she said she wants justice to prevail and her money back.
“I want my £70, 000 pounds back. I am owing £4000 pounds for utility bills. Gas and Electricity. I can no longer feed well. My children are managing to go to school. I cannot pay their fees. My mother is dead and no money to bury her. I want justice to prevail,” she said.
After listening to the heart-felt story, the judge adjourned the case to February 27 for further hearing.