…the defendants approached the victim at the airport, posing as legitimate currency exchange agents.
A Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos state has arraigned two men, Usman Garuba and Sagir Shuaib, for allegedly impersonating Bureau De Change operators and defrauding a traveler of foreign currency worth over N16 million at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, iNews Times reports.
According to court documents and police investigations, the defendants approached the victim, Ali Kelvin, on March 26, 2025, around 5 p.m., posing as legitimate currency exchange agents.
The suspects reportedly offered to convert 90,000 Chinese yuan (RMB), equivalent to approximately N16,650,000, into Nigerian naira. Kelvin, believing them to be genuine operators, handed over the funds to them but never received the naira equivalent, iNews Times learnt.
A formal complaint lodged with the Airport Police Division led to a swift investigation and the subsequent arrest of the suspects.
The duo now faces a three-count charge, including conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretenses, and stealing.
During interrogation, Garuba and Shuaib allegedly confessed to collecting the funds and admitted to spending the entire money, claiming they were unable to refund the victim.
Both defendants however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Inspector Adeitan Oluwabunmi, prosecuting council, informed the court of the prosecution’s readiness to proceed, requesting a date for hearing to present evidence against the accused.
Magistrate M.A. Agbaje granted bail to the defendants with strict conditions, including the provision of sureties with verifiable means of livelihood and evidence of tax compliance.
The court also directed that the sureties’ addresses be confirmed by law enforcement before bail could be perfected.
Pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions, Garuba and Shuaib have been remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The case was adjourned for mention, with the prosecution revealing that two accomplices involved in the fraudulent scheme remain at large.
The charges against the defendants fall under the Lagos State Criminal Law, with the first count accusing them of conspiring to commit a felony-specifically obtaining money by false pretenses and stealing-an offense under Section 325(1).
The second charge details the fraudulent acquisition of 90,000 RMB under the pretext of currency exchange, in violation of Section 314 and punishable under Section 314(3).
The third count involves the theft of foreign currency, contrary to Section 287.
As the case progresses, the prosecution is expected to present evidence to substantiate the charges against Garuba and Shuaib.
