2 Women In Court For Stealing Friend’s ATM Card, Withdrawing N365,000

Two women, Hope Eze, 23, and Ugonma Chikezie, 30, were on Thursday arraigned in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing their friend’s ATM card and withdrawing N365,000 from the account. Eze, a hairstylist and Chikezie, a business woman, both residing at Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos, are charged with two-counts of stealing and conspiracy.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Victor Eruada, the accused committed the offence on May 10 at No 33, Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Alimosho, Lagos . He said the accused conspired and stole N365,000 belonging to Miss Ruth Ababueze, their friend.

“The two women went to their friend’s house and stole her Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card and used it to withdraw N365, 000.” Eruada told the court that when the complainant discovered that it was her friends who withdrew the money, she confronted them.


The prosecutor said the complainant demanded for her money but the accused said they had spent it for personal use and they would pay back. “All efforts made to get her money back was unsuccessful,” he said. The offences contravened sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised). Section 287 prescribes three years jail term for offenders.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges. Chief Magistrate M.I. Dan-Oni admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each. Dab-Oni ordered that the sureties must be gainfully employed and have evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government. She adjourned the case until July 30 for mention.

NAN