Man charged with fraud in Edo after he marries another woman shortly after traditional introduction

POLICE in Edo State have charged a 41 year old man with fraud after he accepted N4,285,000 ($11,867) from his fiancée and agreed to marry her only to tie the knot with another woman a few days later.

Arraigned before an Evboriaria Magistrate Court in Edo State, Matthew Atewe, 41, is being charged with defrauding Gladys Imagbenikaro. Apparently, Mr Atewe met with Gladys’s parents and declared his intention to marry her but he got married to another woman after performing the introduction ceremony with Gladys.

While testifying at the hearing, Kenneth Imagbenikaro, Gladys' younger brother, said Mr Atewe came to their house with the false intention of marrying his sister. After he did this, their family not only sent him gifts but also deposited money into Mr Atewe's account, after which he absconded.

Mr Imagbenikaro said: “It was the trust the family and his sister had in the man that made her send goods worth €12,000 or N3,000,000 to him to help her sell. My sister sent another N1,285,000 to Atewe to be deposited in her account.”

According to Kenneth, Gladys sent him to retrieve the goods and cash from Mr Atewe after she noticed that he was no longer truthful to her. He said the man stopped visiting their family house after receiving their gifts.

After hearing the prosecution case, Magistrate SA Ugah adjourned hearing of the case till August 16.