LAGOS woman Victoria Alaegbu has been arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrates’ Court on a five-count charge that includes attempted murder and unlawful detention after she was accused of using her charm on her fiancé enabling her to run off with his $1.5m.

Ms Alaegbu, 46, apparently administered a native charm, made up of a noxious chemical substance on her fiancé Prince Hillary Unachukwu, last December in Ikoyi, Lagos. Apparently, the substance knocked him out between 8pm and midnight and gave Ms Alaegbu time to steal the money and lock Prince Unachukwu inside the house. 

In the morning, when Prince Unachukwu woke up when the effects of the charm had worn off he shouted for help upon realising that a sum of $1.5m (N295.5m) had been stolen from him. He subsequently reported the matter to the police and Ms Alaegbu was later arrested and yesterday was charged with conspiracy, attempt to kill, stealing, unlawful detention and the possession of a fake document. 

Prosecuting officer Sergeant Nicholas Akpene, said the defendant locked Prince Unachukwu up inside his apartment with a padlock. He also alleged that the defendant had a SIM card with number 07087773669, which was not registered in her name or at her address. 

Investigations showed that the registration of the SIM card was done with intent to commit fraud, he added. Ms Alaegbu, however denied the charges and Magistrate SK Matepo granted her N5m bail with two sureties in the like sum. 

In addition, the magistrate ordered that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means and show evidence of tax payment, before adjourning the case to February 10 for mention. Also, one of the sureties should be a relation of the accused. 

Last Tuesday, the police arraigned Prince Unachukwu’s 22-year-old security guard, Isaac Onoja, for conniving with unknown persons to steal the $1.5m. Mr Onoja, from Benue State, had claimed that some unknown armed men forcibly entered the premises and tied him up before stealing the money from the complainant’s room.