Two men, Eze Hyginus, 53 and Matthew Enetomhe, 65, have landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly swindling Citygate Global Investment Limited to the tune of the sum of N220m under false pretence.
According to the reports, the suspects have been arrested and charged for the alleged offence under the Criminal Laws of the State over the alleged conduct.
The incident happened in August, 2024, in Ikeja area of Lagos.
The suspects allegedly obtained the money under false pretence as loan to be repaid on an agreed date.
According to the Police, the suspects, Eze Hyginus and Matthew Enetomhe borrowed N150m and N70m respectively from the company with an agreement to pay on certain dates.
However, when it was time to refund the money, they did not refund the money to the company rather they presented two dud cheques, which were not honoured when presented to the bank as their accounts had no such money.
The matter was reported to the Police at Area F Command, Ikeja Command. The Police operatives moved into action, arrested the suspects and detained them at the Command for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
After thorough interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for obtaining under false pretence ,issuing of dud cheques and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT I: “That you, EZE HYGINUS ‘M’ of Okota, Lagos, and you MATTHEW ENETOMHE ‘M’ of Banko Estate, Irawo, Lagos, sometime in the month of August, 2024, in Ikeja magisterial district, fraudulently obtained the sum of one hundred and fifty million Naira (N150,000,000) and seventy million Naira (N70,000,000) respectively from one CITYGATE GLOBAL INVESTMENT LIMITED located at Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja Lagos, with intent to obtain loan from them and refused to refund the money to the company when due and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 338 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, EZE HYGINUS ‘M’ and MATTHEW ENETOMHE ‘M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did tender Zenith Bank, FCMB and Providus Bank cheaques to CITYGATE Global Investment Limited, that was later returned dud and cloned by the banks and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 365 of the criminal laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, EZE HYGINUS ‘M’ and MATTHEW ENETOMHE ‘M’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by collecting the sum of one hundred and fifty million naira (N150,000,000) and seventy million (N70,000,000) respectively from CITYGATE GLOBAL INVESTMENT LIMITED and refused to pay back when due and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 168 of the criminal laws of Lagos State Of Nigeria, 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ihkayere, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they were actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted them bail with sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.
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