Woman charged with ticket forgery and $2,500 fraud

A 41-year-old woman, Adenike Salami, was brought before the Ebute-Metta Magistrate Court in Lagos State on Friday, facing charges of airline ticket forgery and fraudulently obtaining $2,500. Salami appeared before Magistrate Waliu Salami on three counts: conspiracy, fraud, and forgery, as filed by the police.

The prosecutor informed the court that Salami, along with accomplices who remain at large, allegedly conspired to commit these offenses. “The defendant and her associates forged an airline ticket to deceive and defraud the victim,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecution detailed that the incident occurred on June 27, 2024, at No. 26, Olomowewe Street, Mushin, Lagos. Salami is accused of fraudulently obtaining $2,500, roughly equivalent to N4.5 million, under false pretenses. She is alleged to have created a counterfeit Taag-Linhas Airline ticket without authorization and used it to deceive Catherine Mbaku, who intended to purchase a legitimate ticket to Bolivia.

“The defendant induced Catherine Mbaku to hand over $2,500 by falsely promising to provide a genuine airline ticket, which was, in fact, forged,” the prosecutor added.

Salami faces charges under Sections 406 and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, and the offenses are punishable under Sections 370(1)(2) and 314(1)(a)(b)(2)(3).

Salami pleaded not guilty to the charges. Magistrate Salami granted her bail in the amount of N500,000, requiring two sureties with similar amounts. The sureties must provide evidence of livelihood, proof of tax payment to the Lagos State Government, and verified addresses.

The case has been adjourned until September 20, 2024, for further proceedings.