An Onitsha Magistrate Court, presided over by Chief Magistrate M.O.N. Okonkwo on Monday remanded a professional swindler in prison for defrauding a sales girl of N2.3 million at Bridge-Head Drug Market, Onitsha in Anambra.
Anayo Okafor (34), who confessed he operates from Obibi-Ochasi community in Orlu LGA, Imo State, have swindled three sales girls at different occasion of N2.3 million and N800,000 in Bridge-Head Market; while duping an Nnewi-based female banker N1 million.
Okafor, however, pleaded not guilty to two count charge brought against him.
The charge included: Okafor deceitfully receiving N2.3 million from Miss Nkechi Onyemachi a sales girl of Mr Festus Okorie, who is a trader in Bridge-head Market, Onitsha as well as swaying and hypnotizing Onyemachi to abscond from her master’s shop on March 20, 2012.
The chief magistrate called up Onyemachi who narrated her ordeal and how she was hypnotized by Okafor and one other accomplice, who is at large.
Mr Vincent Ogbu, Police Prosecutor, said that Okafor had been a repeat offender, who had a case already running at the state High Court, in which he jumped bail and was re-arrested on July 8 when he duped a female banker.
“I am oppose to the bail application since he is a repeat offender and had jumped bail previously until similar case was reported against him in Fegge Police Station on July 8 and he was re-arrested.
“The addresses and phone numbers he gave in his case at the state High Court were not genuine after police investigation and verifications. So, my Lord, I vehemently oppose his bail for public safety,’’ Ogbu said.
Mr J.S. Ekezie, counsel to the defendant, appealed to the court to consider the bail application since the offence was bail-able.
“My Lord this alleged offence inputted against my client is bail-able and I see no reason why the prosecutor should oppose it,’’ he said.
In his ruling, Magistrate Okonkwo ordered that Okafor should be remanded in Onitsha prisons pending the next adjourned date of the matter.
“For now, Okafor is remanded in prison; while the case is adjourned to August 26, for further hearing,’’ he said.
