Alleged 1.2m fraud: Absence of businessman stalls his arraignment

The absence of 45-year-old businessman, David Omonije, in an FCT High Court in Kubwa, Abuja, stalled his arraignment for allegedly issuing a N1.2 million dud cheque.

The Attorney-General of the Federation charged the defendant with two counts bordering on issuance of dud cheque.

The defence counsel, Nureni Sulyman, apologised for his client’s absence saying he could not appear because he travelled outside the jurisdiction of the court.

Sulyman said his client got held up and could not return due to the fuel scarcity in the country.

He however prayed to the court for an adjournment.

Justice Bello Kawu adjourned the matter until June 23 for arraignment.

Newsmen reports that the Prosecution Counsel, John Okpa alleged that Omonije who owns Interrand Engineering Limited, Abuja issued the said cheque in favour of Seed of Abraham Investment Limited on Feb.9, 2018.

Okpa alleged that while the first bank cheque was presented at the bank by the complainant, Hyacinth Nwosu, it was dishonoured by the bank.

The prosecution alleged that Omonije escaped and failed to honour police invitations until he was arrested in September, 2020.

The offence, he said, contravenes the provisions of Section 1 of the Dishonoured Cheques Offence Act Cap11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.