2 suspects arraigned in court for defrauding air passengers N2.3m

Two suspects identified as Adegoke Ademuyiwa Johnson, ’43’ and Juliet Enweazu ’52’ who defrauded air passengers of the sum of N2.3 million were recently arraigned before the Chief Magistrate Court Tinubu.

Investigations revealed that the suspects specialize in collecting money from air travelers and subsequently using stolen credit cards to pay for tickets.

They however meet their waterloo when a major airliner (name withheld) had requested some passengers who had acquired their tickets through the swindlers alight from the aircraft for questioning.

The passengers were directed to appear at the American Consulate for explanations on how their tickets were bought. But the passengers were later cleared to be victims and not collaborators of the unlawful act.

The case was swiftly reported to the Special Fraud Unit, Lagos, who upon interrogation discovered that the passengers paid a total sum of N2.3 million to Enweazu, who operates a travel agency at Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos.

Adegoke, in collaboration with Enweazu, confessed to have been running another travel agency in Ibadan for over five years. He also confessed to have defrauded a family of 11 in December, 2016 of huge sum in the guise of procuring air tickets.

The Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, Lagos, Ibrahim Lamorde, who spoke on the development said. “This case is another reason why air travelers must be careful. Air travel passengers should only patronize registered International Air Transport Association (AITA) agencies to procure their travel tickets to avoid issues like this.

“Air travelers are also expected to be careful with the use of credit cards used for tickets bought by third parties except if the card will be available for presentation at the point of boarding.”

“The suspects will be properly prosecuted not only because they were alleged to have stolen credit cards but for many innocent people who had fallen into the hands of these fraudsters,” he added.

LASG taskforce impounds 146 motorcycles, prosecute 21 suspects

The operatives of the Lagos State Task Force today impounded 146 motorcycles and arrested 21 riders at 2nd Rainbow area along Mile 2 area of Lagos.

The Chairman of the Agency SP Olayinka Egbeyemi who spoke to journalist on the activities of the agency disclosed that the enforcement operations were carried out based on series of complaints to his office by innocent members of the public on the criminal activities perpetuated by these motorcyclists around Mile 2, Orile-Iganmu and Coker Aguda Areas.

He disclosed that robbers use the cyclists to terrorize innocent members of the public both day and night by dispossessing them of their valuables such as phone, jewelleries and bags.

In his remark, “ I am calling on the association overseeing the affairs of motorcycle operators, the taskforce boss advised that the body screen out criminals amongst their membership and educate others to stop plying any of the restricted 475 routes which includes highways and bridges across the State.

“ I also enjoin private power bike (200cc above) owners particularly corporate bodies to warn their dispatch riders to stop engaging in commercial activities as anyone caught violating any sections of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 would be prosecuted.”

He however confirmed that after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Fatai Owoseni was well briefed about the enforcement operations, he directed that all those arrested be charged to court for prosecutions.

Meanwhile Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court sitting at Oshodi forfeited the impounded 146 motorcycles to government and subsequently sentenced 21 arrested riders/operators to 2 weeks imprisonment with N5,000 as an options of fine to jail term.

Prosecuting Counsel Barrister Adedoyin Odukoya disclosed that 21 arrested motorcycle riders/operators were convicted after they all pleaded ‘Guilty’ to the 2 counts charge levied against them.

He said, “the two counts charge are Driving/Riding Motorcycles on restricted routes contrary to Scheduled (1) item (22) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 and ‘Conducts likely to cause Breach of Peace’ contrary to Section 166 Sub. (1) (d) of Lagos State Criminal Laws of 2011. “

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