Wife drags husband to court over €550,000 fraud

A 36-year-old housewife, Helen Owie, who hails from Benin-City, Edo State on Tuesday at the Asaba High Court 3, Delta State broke down in tears as she asked the court to help her to recover €550,000 from her estranged husband, Chidi Ike, who allegedly duped her over a bogus overseas trip.

Helen wept as she was being cross-examined by her counsel, Mr. Raphael Okhouoleigbe.

“I got the contact of one of my customers in Benin City where I was then trader around New Benin Market in 2009 by one Obinna. Obinna later introduced me to my estranged husband, Chidi

“I showed interest that I will marry the brother after we had discussed and my photograph was sent to Chidi. Three weeks later, Chidi and I met and we started planning marriage.

“In the process, I travelled back to Italy where I had stayed for over 20 years before coming to Nigeria in 2012. Chidi and I got married. My husband demanded for a loan of N3m and I gave him €550,000 and also sponsored our marriage for N180, 000,” Owie said.

The woman, who claimed she was duped of a huge sum of money, added, “I spent 20 years in the Europe and when I returned home, my husband Chidi refused to make love to me for three years I spent in Nigeria.

“Each time I asked him to make love to me so that I can take in, he would dribble me. Unknown to me, he had a wife and children in Mbaise, Imo State. But he told me he was never married when I met him and we moved to Asaba after our marriage.”

Police prosecution witness, Elizabeth Ezeh, had told the court that Chidi was arrested and subsequently detained at the Police “A” Division, Asaba for alleged fraud, adding that he was granted bail and charged to court on three counts of conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretense.

But the accused person, Chidi Ike, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The presiding Judge, Justice Daniel Maidu, adjourned the case till April 14, 2016 for further hearing.