Lagos – Two unemployed women, who allegedly obtained N22.8 million under the guise of reproducing the money in dollar bills, were on Tuesday charged before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused — Gloria Osuji, 36, and Bose Onabanjo, 36 — who both reside at No. 12, Asalu St., Ikotun, a Lagos suburb, are charged with stealing and obtaining money under false pretences.

The prosecutor, Insp. Peter Nwangwu, told the court that the accused obtained N22.8 million from one Miss Tochukwu Okafor under the guise of buying some chemicals and materials with which to produce dollar bills.

“The accused for a period of two months obtained N22. 8 million from one Miss Tochukwu Okafor, a pharmaceutical sales representative, on the pretext of reproducing dollar bills for her.

“They systematically obtained the money through bank transactions and withdrew the money from the various branches of an unnamed bank at Lafenwa, Abeokuta, Ogun capital,” Nwangwu said.

He said Osuji and Onabanjo were apprehended following a tip-off by Miss Okafor’s employer, Geneith Pharmaceutical Company, where Okafor allegedly stole the money she gave to the accused.

Nwangwu noted that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offences.

The Magistrate, Mrs A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu, granted the accused bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered the accused to deposit N200, 000 at the Deputy Chief Registrar’s Office.

The case was adjourned to July 7 for hearing.

/NAN