The Lagos State Police have charged a 25-year-old tailor, Victoria Effiong, at a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Iba on Friday, October 4, for allegedly refusing to marry a suitor after accepting gifts worth N2.8 million from him.
Effiong faces accusations of breaching the peace, cheating, and obtaining by false pretenses.
According to Punch, police prosecutor Inspector Chinedu Njoku reported that the incident occurred on September 25, 2024, at 10 a.m. on Ajanaku Street, Isashi.
“Effiong unlawfully deceived the complainant, Dominic Asuquo, by obtaining N2,866,000 under the pretense of agreeing to marry him but failed to follow through,” he stated.
The prosecutor explained that while dating Asuquo, Effiong received various gifts, including an iPhone valued at N240,000, clothing, a wristwatch, shoes, and bags worth N350,000. He added that Asuquo had also given her a cash sum of N810,000 and provided daily feeding money over seven months totaling N868,000.
The situation escalated when Asuquo learned that Effiong was planning to marry another man, despite having introduced him to her parents, who were aware of their relationship. “Effiong also withdrew N300,000 from Asuquo’s ATM account for shopping,” Njoku noted.
Before Magistrate Mrs. O. M. Ogun, Effiong pleaded not guilty to the charges. She denied having a relationship with Asuquo, claiming he knew she was seeing someone else. While she admitted to receiving the iPhone, a smaller phone worth N20,000, money, and other items, she insisted that she had asked Asuquo to stop sending money because it made her uncomfortable.
According to the prosecutor, the alleged offenses are punishable under Sections 168 (1d), 322, and 314 (2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
Magistrate Ogun granted Effiong bail set at N200,000, requiring two sureties of the same amount. “One of the sureties must be a blood relative, provide proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and have their address verified,” the magistrate ruled.
The case has been adjourned until November 28, 2024, for mention.