Married Woman Arraigned for Allegedly Defrauding Suitor of N607,500 Under False Pretense
A 31-year-old married woman, Ajayi Esther, was arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court on February 4 for allegedly deceiving a suitor into believing she was single and fraudulently obtaining N607,500 from him.
Esther is facing a three-count charge of fraud, impersonation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace. According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Sodiq Adeniyi, she met the complainant, Ajayi Oluwabusuyi, and falsely presented herself as unmarried. Based on this pretense, she allegedly accepted money from him with the promise of marriage but failed to proceed with the engagement ceremony.
Additionally, the defendant is accused of impersonating a teacher at Egiri Oke Comprehensive School in Iyin-Ekiti. The alleged offenses violate Sections 186, 393, and 181(1)(d) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
During the court proceedings, the prosecutor requested more time to review the case and prepare witnesses. Esther, however, pleaded not guilty, and her defense counsel, Mrs. Joy Raphael, pleaded for her bail.
Chief Magistrate Dolamu Babalogbon granted her bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until March 5 for further hearing.