BY PAUL IYOGHOJIE
Operatives of the Nigerian Police Zone 2 Command, Lagos have arrested a Bureau de Change operator based at Alade Market, Ikeja, Lagos, Hassan Abdullahi and charged him before a Lagos Magistrate’s Court for allegedly obtaining the sum of N21,125,000 from Mordi Lyke Lawrence, a customer based abroad, under false pretense.
Police alleged that the complainant entrusted the foreign currency equivalent to the sum of N21,125,000 in the care of Abdullahi, 42, on trust as an operator to remit the money into his account abroad but that the defendant instead converted the money into his personal use.
Police further alleged that following the development, Lawrence, the complainant petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh incharged of Zone 2 Command, Lagos who swiftly directed his crack team to fish out the fleeing suspect.
The Police team later arrested Abdullahi and dragged him before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court, Lagos Island on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretense, stealing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Police prosecuting Counsel, ASP Okete Ejima told the Court in the charge Marked G/10/2026 that the defendant committed the offence in 2024 at Alade market, Ikeja, Lagos.
Ejima informed the Court that the defendant betrayed the trust reposed in him by the complainant as a bureau de change Operator by converting the hard currency equivalent to the sum of N21,125,000 he entrusted in his care to remit into his account abroad to his personal use.
He said the offences, the defendant committed were punishable under sections 411, 168, 419 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendantt, however pleaded not guilty to the charges and his Counsel, Barr. Augustine Okey prayed the Court to grant the defendant bail in the most liberal terms promising the defendant would not jump bail if granted and Magistrate F.M Dalley granted the defendant bail in the sum of N21 million with two sureties in like sum.
Dalley adjourned the case till 4 June, 2026 for mention and ordered that the defendant be detained at the Ikoyi Correctional facility, Lagos till he perfected the bail conditions.
