Single Ladies Beware: Serial-Marriage Fraudsters On The Prowl

Single ladies in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria should start approaching marriage propositions with caution, as fraudulent marriage cartels may be the new scam.

Recently, a middle aged man, Chris Alatu, was arrested by officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja for allegedly defrauding single female bankers under the pretence of marrying them.

Alatu, a tile apprentice, allegedly fleeced five female bankers before one of the women, Chizoba Igwilo, reported that he defrauded her of N1.7million and jewelleries.

Igwilo, a staff of Zenith Bank Plc, said she was lured into a false marriage by Alatu. According to her, Alatu was also married to another banker called Stella, an employee of Diamond Bank Plc.

“My family and I footed the bill of our purported marriage, but I found out that the marriage which we conducted at a registry was a fake. I decided to check out the marriage certificate because a lady called Stella had called to inform me to leave Chris (Alatu) alone because she was married to him,” she said. 

Igwilo also alleged that further investigation revealed that Alatu had defrauded other female bankers in Abuja and Port Harcourt by marrying them.

“Chris (Alatu) also deceived me to part with my 1.7 million which he used to buy a house in his name. I have discovered that he is a fraud and I want my money back. I lost my pregnancy due to the stress and since the marriage is a fake, I would like the police to assist me to recover my money and jewelleries.”

Alatu, however, denied the allegations, saying that his wife and accuser was under a spell. “For her to come out and report me to the police over what I don’t to know is a gimmick to spoil my reputation as she is the one going about gossiping about me. Since she has packed her things and left the house, that is the end and I am ready to let her go,” he said.

“The allegation that I am fleecing women into marriage is all in her bid to rubbish my name. I still love her and I feel my wife needs deliverance from marine spirits who are bent on destroying her marriage.”