By Sade Adewale

A 45-year-old woman, Ololade Williams, has been arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ondo town for allegedly obtaining the sum of N35,664,000 from Gregory Eze under the pretense of procuring United States visas for his two children.

The police presented Williams in court on Wednesday for fraudulently obtaining the sum from the complainant.

Williams now faces a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretense.

The accused was said to have committed the offence between 2022 and July 2024, contrary to and punishable under Sections 516 and 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

The charge sheet reads in part, “That you, Ololade Williams, and one at large, between 2022 and July 2024, during the daytime in Ondo town within the Ondo Magisterial District, conspired together to commit a felony, to wit: obtaining money under false pretense, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.

“That you, Ololade Williams, and one at large, during the same period and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did fraudulently obtain the sum of N35,664,000 from one Gregory Eze under the pretense of procuring United States visas for two of his children, which you failed to deliver, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The police prosecutor, Supol Bernard Olagbayi, informed the court that he would be calling three witnesses to testify in the case and requested a date to review the case file.

The defendant was not legally represented in court.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs Omofolarin O. A., granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2,000,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She stipulated that the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction and must present evidence of tax payment for the current year along with proof of property ownership.

Omofolarin adjourned the case till 3rd December 2024 for trial.