59-Year-Old Woman Docked for ₦34m Customs Scam, Gets Bail Over Fake Rice Deal

  A 59-year-old woman, Rakiyat Musa , has been arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court sitting at Tinubu, Lagos Island , for allege...

 

A 59-year-old woman, Rakiyat Musa, has been arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court sitting at Tinubu, Lagos Island, for allegedly impersonating a Nigerian Customs officer and defrauding several victims of more than ₦34 million under false pretence.

Musa appeared before Magistrate B. I. Amos on Thursday, facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing, impersonation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

Prosecution Alleges Fraud Scheme

During the arraignment, the case prosecutor, Inspector Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the defendant, along with other accomplices still at large, committed the offences between April and July 2025.

Osuji alleged:

“The defendant fraudulently obtained the sum of ₦13,480,000 from one Mr. Damilare Sodiq, President of Power House Cooperative, Kosofe, Lagos, under the guise of supplying bags of rice and groundnut oil.”

He further told the court that Musa also collected additional funds from three other individuals—₦5,350,000 from Mr. Chukwudi Joshua, ₦2,600,000 from Mr. Mathew Nworie, and ₦2,686,000 from Mr. Okereke Johnson—all under the same false representation.

According to the prosecution, the defendant posed as a Nigerian Customs officer and presented a fake identity card to convince her victims of her supposed official status.

“She knew all along that her claims were false,” Osuji added.

In addition to the funds collected under false pretence, the prosecution also accused Musa of stealing ₦10 million from the complainants.

The offences, Osuji stated, violate Sections 411, 314, 287, and 380(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Defendant Pleads Not Guilty

When the charges were read, Rakiyat Musa pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Magistrate B. I. Amos granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦2.5 million, with two sureties in like sum.

“The sureties must be resident in Lagos State, gainfully employed, and must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government. Their addresses must also be verified,” Magistrate Amos ruled.

As part of the bail conditions, the court also ordered Musa to deposit ₦500,000 in cash.

The case has been adjourned till August 11, 2025, for mention.