Police Arraign Woman Over Alleged $55,000 Forex Transaction Fraud
Kehinde Adeleye
A 41 year old woman, Anacheobi Obianuju, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba over an alleged $55,000 forex transaction fraud involving 2 men.
The amount, according to the police charge sheet, is equivalent to about N74 million.
The prosecution alleged that the incident occurred in February 2026 at Ijanikin, Lagos, within the Lagos Magisterial District.
In the 1st count, the Commissioner of Police alleged that Obianuju, with intent to defraud, obtained the $55,000 from the complainants under the pretense that she would use the money for foreign exchange trading.
The prosecution alleged that she knew the representation to be false.
The charge was brought under Section 314 (1) (a) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In the 2nd count, the police alleged that Obianuju, alongside other persons who are still at large, dishonestly stole the same $55,000 belonging to Mr Eze Udensi and Mr Bashiru Mohammed.
The alleged stealing offence was brought under Section 230 (1) (a), (b) and (c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Obianuju pleaded not guilty to both counts.
The prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji, told the court that investigations were still ongoing and requested an adjournment to enable the police present their evidence.
Presiding Magistrate Mrs O. Kasunu granted the defendant bail with 2 sureties.
The sureties are required to provide evidence of their means of livelihood and proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter for mention, while the defendant was remanded at the Correctional Centre in Kirikiri pending the perfection of her bail conditions.
The Investigating Police Officer listed in the charge is ASP Obeten Obeten of the Command Special Squad II.
The case file has also been forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Ogba, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, for legal advice.
The allegations come amid continued concerns over fraudulent foreign exchange and investment transactions, with authorities and financial experts regularly advising members of the public to verify operators and businesses before committing large sums of money.
The police allegation has not been established as fact. Obianuju remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of law.
