Ekiti: Police Arraign Married Woman for Collecting Over ₦600K from Suitor After Falsely Claiming to Be Single

A 31-year-old woman, Ajayi Esther, was arraigned on February 4 before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly deceiving a suitor into believing she was single, collecting N607,500 from him, and then refusing to go through with their planned engagement.

The defendant faces charges of fraud, impersonation, and breach of peace. Prosecutor Insp. Sodiq Adeniyi informed the court that Esther had misled the complainant, Ajayi Oluwabusuyi, by falsely claiming she was unmarried. Under this pretense, she allegedly accepted the sum to prepare for an engagement ceremony that never happened.

Additionally, the prosecution alleged that Esther falsely claimed to be a teacher at Egiri Oke Comprehensive School in Iyin-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area. Adeniyi stated that her actions were likely to cause a breach of peace, citing violations of Sections 186, 393, and 181(1)(d) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.

When the charges were read, Esther pleaded not guilty. Her lawyer, Mrs. Joy Raphael, requested bail, assuring the court that her client would not evade trial. Chief Magistrate Dolamu Babalogbon granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum. The case was adjourned until March 5 for a hearing.