The suspected fraudster, Salami, Oluwatobi Peter, who claimed to be Oba of Lagos

A United Kingdom based-Nigerian lady, Mrs. Ajoke Moriselade, on Wednesday, narrated before an Ebute-metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, by a fraudster, Salami Oluwatobi Peter, who claimed to be Oba of Lagos, HRM, Oba Osuolale Rilwan Akiolu.

The fraud victim, lost N15 million to the said fake Oba of Lagos, who had promised her to get a slot at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

It would be recalled that the said fake Oba of Lagos, Salami Oluwatobi Peter, was arraigned before Chief magistrate Akorede Ajibade (Mrs.) by the men of State Criminal Intelligence Investigation Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba, Lagos, led by Sergeant Olalere Olalekan, on August 18, 2017, on charges bordering on conspiracy, impersonation, fraud, forgery and stealing.

Though, he had pleaded not guilty to the charges and admitted to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum, he is yet to meet the bail terms.

At the resumed trial of the accused, the fraud victim, Mrs. Moriselade while being led-in-evidence by the prosecutor, Inspector Adebayo Oladele, in an emotion laden voice said: “I was duped under false pretence of dealing with Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Osuolale Akiolu, to procure a slot in the proposed Lekki Free Airport Investment.

“I met the accused person, Salami Oluwatobi Peter, on facebook in 2016, through a friend request from Oba of Lagos and profile picture was that of Oba Osuolale Akiolu”.

The fraud victim also explained that after two months of consistent chat, the accused who disguised as Akiolu sought for financial assistance that he want to do business at America worth N250 million.

She stated that upon his request, she advised him to contact people like Tinubu, Fashola to get the assistance. But after several pleadings, she lend him the sum of N5 million, with a promise that he would pay back after the contract.

Morisalade further stated that after the first assistance, the fake Oba of Lagos, called her again and introduced her to a business that she should buy a share in a company that after three month I would be earning profit that would be deposited in her account here in Nigeria.

She also stated that the alleged fraudster later send her a form through DHL and asked me to deposit N5 million to start wit”.

She stated that after giving him the second N5 million, the alleged fraudster stopped calling her, and that she did not received any update as regards the business. And when she queries the accused person, and she was told that the money earlier transferred was too small to be a shareholder and later send another N5 million to him.

The fraud victim when asked by the prosecutor, Inspector Oladele when and did she discovered the man behind the mask?

Moriselade replie and said when the accused stop picking her call she add his number on a snap chat with the hope of leaving a message only to discover that the profile picture was that of a young man not Akiolu.

“So I decide to play along and disguised to be his admirer in other to get the truth which I later send him two phone and Ipad worth £800 BPS, in the course of our relationship through my younger brother in Nigeria giving him the defendant line to call for delivery and he actually received it.

She stated that when her younger brother gave her the description of the receiver it tally with the picture she saw on snap chat. And that was when it’s done on her for real that she have been dealing with a fraudster”

The accused is standing trial before Chief Ajibade (Mrs.) on charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing, forgery and fraud.

He was first arraigned before the court by the men of SCIID, Panti-Yaba, Lagos, sometimes in August 18, 2017.

The police had alleged that the 27 years old and others now at large, had in the month of August, 2016, at 8, Olokonla Street, along Ajah, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, conspired among themselves and fraudulently obtained the sum of fifteen million naira from the complainant.

The offences according to the prosecutor, Inspector Oladele Adebayo are contrary to and punishable under Sections 312, 380(1) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Further hearing has been adjourned till February 14 and 15 for cross examination of the victim, and continuation of trial.