A Nigerian businessman has been remanded in Kirikiri prison in Lagos after allegedly defrauding friends of 360 million naira in a tech investment deal, according to an account by one of the alleged victims.
Media personality Shola, who posts on X as @itsSh0la, said he lost 180 million naira in the deal and accused a developer identified as Blessing Anuwa of masterminding the alleged fraud.
Shola said an acquaintance introduced him to a businessman seeking investment in an existing tech project. He said he attended meetings with his lawyer and, after presentations on the project’s potential, invested 180 million naira in exchange for promised returns.
He said problems began when repayment became due, with the businessman allegedly requesting additional funds to resolve issues with the project.
Shola said he later discovered the man he dealt with was not the actual developer but that the project was being handled by his childhood friend, Blessing. He said Blessing had also invested more than 120 million naira in the same venture before his own involvement.
He said he waited from December 2024 to April 2026 amid repeated excuses before reporting the matter to police in early April.
According to his account, investigators questioned the businessman and established that funds had been transferred to Blessing. Shola alleged that Blessing told his childhood friend he was in China, but police traced him to Ibadan, where he had relocated from Lagos.
He said Blessing and his family later pleaded for forgiveness after his arrest.
Court proceedings have commenced. Shola said the suspect was granted bail in July but remained in Kirikiri prison after failing to meet the bail conditions. The next hearing is scheduled for January 2027.
He said the money had already been spent and that he would allow the law to take its course.
Police and court officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Realtime could not independently verify the allegations.