Female lender absconds with customers’ N8m

A female money lender, Abolade Omowunmi, has been arrested by the police for allegedly absconding with customers’ deposits.

The money, totalling N8 million, was said to have been collected from 13 of her customers.

Omowunmi, whose address was not given, alongside four of her accomplices, were said to have obtained the money by promising to give the depositors low interest soft loans which they could invest in their businesses.

It was alleged that the incident occurred sometimes in July at about 10.00 a.m. at Sangotedo town in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.

Lagos Metro learnt that the suspect was arrested by officers of the Area ‘J’ police command, Elemoro, Ajah, following complaints by the depositors and after investigation by Mr Isaac Mathias, a policeman.

She was arraigned on Wednesday before Mrs K. B. Ayeye of the Tinubu magistrates’ court on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining under false pretence and stealing.

Prosecuting police inspector, N. Thomas, told the court that the defendant, with intent to defraud, induced and unlawfully obtained N8 million from one Friday Eworo, Olayiwola Tobiloba, Okafor Augustine and 10 others.

She explained that it was obtained under the pretence that the defendant would give them loans which would be paid back at a certain interest rate at a given period, knowing same to be false.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge and the magistrate, Ayeye, granted her N200,000 bail with two sureties in the like sum, while she adjourned the case till September 7.