Former Emir of Kano’s son: Arrested woman’s actions bad but not illegal

Ashraf Sanusi, the son of former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has commented on the recent arrest and parade of a 21-year-old model, Atuonah Chioma, who allegedly defrauded a German man of $220,000 after promising to marry him but failing to fulfill her promise. According to the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, the suspect used Instagram to lure the victim by pretending to have romantic intentions towards him. The victim then reportedly gave her the money on the pretext that she was going to marry him, but she failed to fulfill her promise.

Chioma was interrogated by the PSFU and confirmed that she had indeed collected the money from the German man. She also disclosed that she used part of the funds to purchase a 2-Bedroom Terrace apartment at Zara Estate, Ikota Villa, Lekki Phase II. Additionally, she stated that some of the funds were sent to support her mother’s business and to pay for her father’s medical bills.

Ashraf Sanusi, in his reaction to the news, acknowledged that Chioma’s actions were wrong but not necessarily illegal, as the German man willingly gave her the money. He further added that while what Chioma did was bad, it did not necessarily warrant her arrest.

It is worth noting that fraudulent activities, including obtaining money by false pretense, are illegal in Nigeria, and offenders may face criminal charges if caught. The Nigerian government has been making efforts to combat fraud and other forms of financial crimes, and the police have been stepping up their efforts to arrest and prosecute offenders. Nonetheless, cases of fraud continue to be reported in the country, with many people falling victim to scams and other forms of financial deception.