[Paul Iyoghojie

An Epe-based couple, Abioye Wale Junaid, 41 and his wife, Fausat, 39, aka Iron Lady, have been arraigned before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court, Igbosere for allegedly obtaining N85m from two businessmen under pretence.

They were alleged to have collected the money and promised to facilitate the appointment of the businessmen as a commissioner in Lagos State and as Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria during the 2015 general election.

The couple were arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, FSARS, Adeninji Adele Road, Lagos Island following a petition by the two businessmen, Mr. Ambali Abiodun and Otuniyi Adeniyi to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, FSARS, Ibrahim Kaoke.

The businessmen alleged that the couple tricked them into paying N15m and N70m to facilitate their appointment as a commissioner in Lagos State and as Vice President during the last election.

After investigation by ASP Garuba Oseni and his team, Fausat, a staff of Epe LGA of Lagos State and Abioye, a security man attached to the Eko DISCO office at Sangotedo, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos were arraigned before an Igbosere magistrates’ court, Lagos on an eight-count charge of felony to wit: obtaining money under false pretence and impersonation.

Police prosecutor, DSP Charles Odii told the court that the couple committed the offence in October 2014 and 31 December, 2015 at their residence, 7, Ayeola Street, Oke Balogun, Epe, Lagos.

Odii told the court that with intent to defraud, Fausat told the complainants that she was the Principal Assistant to the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo while her husband, Abioye claimed to be the principal assistant to the National leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a claim Odii said the couple knew to be false.

He said the couple used false claims to obtain N15m from Mr. Ambali Abiodun to facilitate his appointment as a commissioner in Lagos State and N70m from Mr. Otuniyi Adeniyi to lobby for him to be the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the last 2015 general election.

Odii said the couple deceive the complainants that with their closeness and working relationship with the Iyaloja-General and National Leader of APC, they will be able to fulfill their promise to them.

He said the complainants realized that they had been duped by the couple when they were not selected as Vice President before the last general election and as a commissioner in Lagos State in the current government.

Odii said when all efforts by the complainants to retrieve their money proved furtile, they reported the matter to the police.

He said the offences were punishable under sections 409, 312(2),285(5)(a) and 378 of the criminal laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The couple, however, pleaded not guilty to the crime in the open court and Chief Magistrate A. O. Sholadoye admitted them on bail in the sum of N3m each with two sureties each in like sum.

Sholadoye directed that one of the sureties must be on Grade Level 16 in the Lagos State Civil Service and the other must own a property in Lagos State with a genuine C of O.

She adjourned the case to 26 August, 2016 for mention while husband and wife were taken to the Ikoyi and Kirikiri prisons respectively, until the fulfilment of conditions attached to their bail.

He said the couple used false claims to obtain N15m from Mr. Ambali Abiodun to facilitate his appointment as a commissioner in Lagos State and N70m from Mr. Otuniyi Adeniyi to lobby for him to be the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the last 2015 general election.