Bickley Park Hotel Scam in Lekki: Woman Accused of Owing ₦1.4 Million After Suspected Fraudulent Setup

Bickley Park Hotel Scam in Lekki: Woman Accused of Owing ₦1.4 Million After Suspected Fraudulent Setup

By Chinyere Njoku

A 30-year-old woman, identified as Chioma, has raised concerns over an alleged scam involving the Bickley Park Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, and one Mr Umeh Emmanuella, aka Henry King, who reportedly orchestrated a deceptive scheme that left her facing a bill of about ₦1.4 million.

According to Chioma, the incident began when she was contacted online by a man who introduced himself as Umeh Emmanuella and allegedly invited her to a birthday celebration and an after-party. When she declined the invitation, he suggested she wait for him at a hotel he claimed to have already booked for the after-party.

Relying on his assurances, Chioma went to the Bickley Park Hotel, where she checked in after submitting her identification details, as required. She said the man maintained communication with her and later asked her to assist in receiving drinks he claimed to have ordered for the event.

Chioma explained that while she listened, Umeh placed a call to the hotel bar and ordered several drinks. Shortly afterward, she received what appeared to be a payment confirmation via WhatsApp, indicating that ₦1.2 million had been transferred to the hotel account. She also claimed that hotel staff confirmed receipt of the payment when she enquired.

The drinks were later delivered and packaged, and Chioma said she was instructed by Umeh to hand them over to a dispatch rider waiting outside the hotel. Before doing so, she stated that both hotel staff and security personnel reassured her that the payment had been successfully processed.

However, the situation reportedly changed the following day when hotel management informed her that the payment was fraudulent and had not been received. She was then held responsible for the cost of the drinks and her stay, bringing the total to approximately ₦1.4 million.

The matter escalated when Chioma was taken to Maroko police station by the hotel management. She alleged that the investigating officer ASP Rasaki, aka Rosco at the Maroko Police Station, concluded she was liable for the charges and must settle the amount or face prosecution, despite what she described as an insufficient investigation.

Chioma has alleged that the Maroko Police Station coerced her into paying ₦700,000 directly into the Bickley Park Hotel account, while also forcing her, under duress, to agree to pay an additional ₦300,000 by a specified deadline. Furthermore, she claims that the Maroko Police Division collected a ₦200,000 bail fine from her, despite being aware of her circumstances. Chioma asserts that these actions point to a concerted conspiracy between the Maroko Police Division, Bickley Park Hotel, and Umeh Emmanuella, aimed at swindling her of her money. She maintains that she was subjected to undue pressure and manipulation, and is now seeking justice and redress for what she believes is a gross miscarriage of justice.

Meanwhile, it has been noted with concern that the front desk officer who initially confirmed the payment has not been brought in for questioning to corroborate Chioma’s claims of receipt confirmation before the drinks were handed over to her, raising questions about the thoroughness of the investigation by ASP Rasaki and potentially allowing crucial evidence to go unrecorded. This omission has sparked concerns about possible lapses in procedure and whether the hotel staff’s accounts were adequately considered, further complicating the pursuit of clarity in this case.

Attempts to reach the man allegedly involved in the incident were unsuccessful, as he reportedly blocked both Chioma and the hotel. Messages and payment confirmations he had sent were also deleted, further raising doubts about the authenticity of the transaction.

Chioma insists she is innocent, stating that she acted based on instructions and confirmations from both the individual and hotel staff. She claims she is being unfairly pressured to pay for transactions she neither authorised nor benefitted from.

There are also confirmed reports that another woman may have experienced a similar situation at the same hotel, allegedly receiving a bill of over ₦200,000 under comparable circumstances.

It has come to light that Mr Umeh Emmanuella, also known as Henry King, may be operating a sophisticated syndicate specialising in defrauding vulnerable women, with a particular focus on leveraging his connections with hotels like Bickley Park Hotel Lekki to execute these illicit schemes.

This alleged modus operandi involves targeting unsuspecting women, gaining their trust, and manipulating them into situations where they are coerced into covering expenses or making payments that ultimately benefit the perpetrator, raising serious concerns about the security and trustworthiness of such establishments.

The case has sparked concerns about possible negligence, procedural lapses, or even collusion, with calls for a thorough and impartial investigation. Chioma is appealing to authorities and the public for intervention, expressing fear of wrongful prosecution.

As of the time of this report, the Maroko police authorities and Bickley Park Hotel management have not released an official statement regarding the allegations.