Producer jailed for duping actress N1.7m

A popular Nollywood film producer, Uchenna Mbunabo, has been dragged before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court for allegedly defrauding an actress of N1.7m. The 28-year-old producer was said to have collected the money from Maryjane Okoye under the pretext that he would produce a film for her.

He allegedly collected the sum since January 2012. Mbunabo was however said to have defaulted after collecting the money from the complainant.

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The incident was said to have happened in the Victoria Garden City, Ajah area of Lagos.

The police, after arresting Mbunabo, arraigned him on Wednesday on two counts of fraud and stealing.

The charges read in part, “That you, Uchenna Mbunabo, sometimes in January, 2012, at Victoria Garden City, Ajah, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did with intent to defraud, unlawfully obtain the cash sum of one million seven hundred thousand Naira (N1,700,000) from one Maryjane Okoye, under the pretence that you will produce her movie, a presentation you knew to be false.”

The prosecutor, Supol A. Orji, said the offences contravened and were punishable under Sections 312(1), 285(5) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offences.

The magistrate, Mrs S.K Matepo, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each in like sum.

The matter was adjourned till October 7.