How a Teacher obtained N100,000 posing as Lagos First Lady

Lagos — A 53- year-old teacher on Grade Level 10, Asogbon Victoria Abosede, was Thursday, arraigned before Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court One, sitting in Ikeja, for allegedly impersonating the first lady of Lagos State, Dame Abimbola Fashola.

The defendant was said to have sent text messages between June and July to the Chairman of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos by falsely presenting herself as first lady of Lagos State and obtained N100,000 from the chairman.

The defendant who is facing a 10-count charge of impersonation and fraud, preferred against her by the Anttorney General of Lagos State, Ade Ipaye, was docked before Chief Magistrate Eniola Fabamwo.

The prosecutor, Attorney General of Lagos State, Ade Ipaye, told the court that the accused committed the alleged crime between the months of June and July 2013, by also sending text messages to one Mrs Gbolahan Khadijat Daudu, who is the Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Maryland in Ikeja area of Lagos.

The Attorney General, who was represented by Sumonu Babatunde, said she also represented herself as sister to Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola.

He said the defendant between June and July 2013, at Local Government Education Authority, in Alimosho Local Government also sent a text message to one Isaac Omoregie, Education Secretary and falsely represented herself as Dame Fashola.

Babatunde also alleged that the suspect with intent to defraud presented herself to be Dame Fashola, to obtain redeployment from Local Government Education Authority, Alimosho, to the Lagos State Basic Education Board.

He also claimed that between the same time, the accused sent a text message to one Isaac Omoregie, Education Sectarary Alimosho, Lagos State by falsely presenting herself as being sent by the first lady to obtain three Blackberry phones and N105,000, from the chairman.

The prosecutor said in June 2013, the defendant falsely represented herself as sister to Mrs Sherifat Aregbeshola, the first lady of Osun State, and gave a false information to one Mrs Gbolahan Khadijat Daudu that Mrs Sherifat Aregbeshola was involved in a road accident and could not attend the wedding of Daudu’s son and that thieves carted the gifts meant for her away as a result of the accident.

According to the prosecutor, the offence committed is contrary to sections 378 (1), (b), 312 (2) and punishable under sections 312 (3), 96 (a), criminal law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

Counsel to the defendant, Samuel Gbolahan, pleaded with the court to grant her bail in liberal terms, since the crime is a bailable offence.

However, when the 10-count charge was read to the defendant, she pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After listening to both counsel, Magistrate Fabamwo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two responsible sureties in like sum, stating that the sureties should deposit N250,000 with the registrar.

She adjourned the case till September 2, 2013 for mention.