Fake importer scams trader of N10m

Firstclass newsline learnt that member of a syndicate, Festus
Anyaere, has been arrested for allegedly conniving with seven others
at large to defraud a trader, Temitope Ibitoye, of N10m.
It was learnt that the 33-year-old suspect had sometime in February
2012 approached Ibitoye in the Ebute Ero Market, parading himself as
an importer of stoves and other household items.
Firstclass newsline learnt that Anyaere, had introduced himself as
Ekene to the woman and took her and her husband, Oluwole, to an estate
in the Iyana Ipaja area of the state, where he and his accomplices
reportedly used as an office.
The woman identified the fleeing members of the cartel as Dr. Smith,
Alhaji, Engineer Michael, Emeka, Chief Fayemi, Frank and Olarewaju.
Olarewaju was said to have acted as the director of the purported
company when Ibitoye and her husband, Oluwole, visited the office.
Imo-born Anyaere had reportedly told the victim that they were
expecting a container of stoves valued at N10m.
Ibitoye said she paid the sum in cash within two months. She added
that it dawned on her that she had been defrauded when she and her
husband got to the office to clear the goods, but met it locked.
She said, "He (Anyaere) identified himself as Ekene and he took my
husband and I to an office in Iyana Ipaja, where we met other seven
people, including a foreigner (Smith). The N10m was paid in cash for
two months.
"We were asked to come and collect the market (stoves) at the office,
but they were not there. We visited the office several times to get
our money back to no avail."
Firstclass newsline was told that the victim's husband, Oluwole, was
passing by around the Idumota area of the state on May 18, 2015– three
years after the alleged fraud – when he saw Anyaere negotiating with
another trader, Yakubu Arinola.
Oluwole reportedly raised the alarm, leading to the suspect's arrest
by men from the Ebute Ero Police Station.
Arinola said Anyaere was discussing a business deal with him when he was caught.
He said, "Festus (Anyaere) came to me and said he could be supplying
me goods that I sell. During our conversation, Ibitoye accosted him
and raised the alarm."
The police said the suspect had confessed to the crime, claiming that
Olarewaju introduced him to "the business."
Anyaere was subsequently brought by a police prosecutor, ASP Chidi
Okoye, before a Tinubu Magistrate's Court on two counts bordering on
fraud and stealing.
The charges read in part, "That you, Festus Anyaere, and others now at
large, sometime in 2012, at an estate in Iyana Ipaja, in the Lagos
Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit; fraud and
stealing."
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The presiding magistrate, A.O. Awogboro, admitted him to bail in the
sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned till July 27, 2015
Firstclassnewsline.net