A young orphan, Miss Victoria Mbachu in the Idemili South local government area of Anambra State, has shared a heart-wrenching tale of how her boyfriend, Mr. Olufemi Salako from the Republic of Benin, allegedly manipulated her into surrendering N8.3 million out of the N10 million proceeds from the sale of her property in Nnobi.
Salako, who works as a bricklayer, had been living with Mbachu since 2018, and the couple share two children together.
Sharing her experience before the Nnobi Chief Magistrate Court in the Idemili South local government area of Anambra State,said the property in question had been sold to a United States resident, Mr. Bonaventure Ezekwenna, in 2021.
However, shortly after the sale, Salako convinced Mbachu to invest N2.8 million in an unfinished bungalow in Ogun State, subsequently extracting an additional N5.5 million from her.
Facing two counts of fraud, Salako and an accomplice, Chijioke Okaa, a native doctor, stand accused of duping Mbachu by coercing her into relinquishing property documents under the pretense of constructing a house for her.
In an emotional testimony in court, Mbachu recounted her experience: “In 2020, Femi introduced me to Chijioke Okaa, stating that Okaa was interested in purchasing my land.
“We agreed on a N10 million deal, with Okaa’s assurance of building a house for me. Femi and Okaa presented documents for my signature, which I hesitated to provide due to unfulfilled promises.
” Femii assured me Okaa wouldn’t deceive me, leading me to eventually sign. However, Okaa failed to pay for the land or construct the promised house.
“When Bonaventure Ezekwenna expressed interest in the property, I sold it for N10 million, receiving full payment and signing the documents for him.”
Mbachu noted that Femi was aware of the transaction and also signed the documents.
However, her situation took a dark turn when Femi insisted they flee from Nnobi to Lagos, despite her intentions to move to Nnewi.
She recounted, “Femi insisted on our departure, coercing me and our children into traveling with him to Lagos.
Once there, he claimed to have found land in Ota, Ogun State, and pressured me to pay N2.8 million for the land and an incomplete bungalow.
He later requested N4 million for completing the construction, which I transferred.
Despite taking me to the location upon arrival, Femi refrained from showing me the house. He accessed my ATM card, withdrawing an extra N1 million and N500,000 for unspecified purposes.
When I demanded to see the house’s documents, Femi dismissed my concerns.”
Mbachu continued, revealing her growing suspicions: “What alarmed me further was Femi’s suggestion to escape to the Benin Republic when he sensed police were tracking me.
He claimed it was his actual homeland, contrary to Ogun State. His true intentions came into question.”
During cross-examination, Bonaventure Ezekwenna recounted that he consulted Salako before purchasing the property, who assured him the land was free of disputes.
To Ezekwenna’s dismay, the construction materials he gathered for the project were either destroyed or stolen. Police investigations hinted at Salako’s involvement in Mbachu’s flight to Lagos after obtaining the N10 million.
Chief Magistrate Ken Nwoye presided over the proceedings, adjourning further hearings to August 18.
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