A Yaba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of a 42-year-old Point of Sale operator, Kafayat Morayo Salami, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre over an alleged N10 million fraud.
Salami was arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force on a four-count charge bordering on alleged stealing, fraudulent conversion and retention of suspected stolen funds.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly convinced a teenager, identified as Peace Godwin, to bring her father’s Automated Teller Machine card linked to a bank account from which N10 million was reportedly withdrawn.
Police further alleged that the suspect received and retained the funds through her Opay account registered under the business name, Morayo Al-Bashroh Ventures.
The prosecution said the offences were committed between February and April 2026 in the Ago-Okota area of Lagos and contravened provisions of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2025.
Presiding Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties.
However, Salami was unable to meet the bail conditions and was subsequently remanded in custody pending further hearing.
The defendant was initially arrested by operatives attached to the Ago-Okota Police Division before the matter was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.
Salami, however, denied the allegations levelled against her and accused the police of unlawful detention and assault during the course of the investigation.
According to her account, the incident began on April 13, 2026, when a 15-year-old girl allegedly visited her shop to carry out a N1 million transaction said to have been authorised by the girl’s mother.
She claimed the teenager requested that N645,000 be transferred into a First Bank account while also collecting N100,000 in cash, leaving a balance yet to be reconciled.
The PoS operator stated that she was later taken to a police station by unidentified persons without being informed of the reason for her arrest.
She further alleged that the teenager had previously carried out similar transactions at her outlet on behalf of her mother and was familiar with the business premises.
Salami also accused officers at the Ago-Okota Police Station of physically assaulting her during interrogation, claiming that her hijab was removed and pressure mounted on her to disclose the password to her mobile phone.
She alleged that her PoS machine was seized and that records relating to the disputed N645,000 transaction were deleted.
The defendant further claimed that she was denied access to family members while in custody and accused investigators of attempting to conceal details linked to the bank account involved in the disputed transaction.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID, Dayo Akinbisehin, was said to have directed that the officer handling the case appear at Panti with relevant account details connected to the investigation.
Despite the development, reports indicated that the Investigating Police Officer insisted on prosecuting the defendant as public attention continued to trail the case.