Businessman docked for alleged negligent conduct

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada told the court that the complainant, Chief security officer, Dutse Alhaji Market , Abuja reported the matter at the Dutse Alhaji Police Station on April 27.

Ogada alleged that the complainant left N300,000 in a carton, in the defendant’s provisions store in the market on April 26.

He added that the complainant’s attention was needed at the gate so he asked the defendant to keep an eye on the shop.

The prosecution counsel said when the complainant returned  to the shop, the money was missing and the defendant claimed that he left the shop to ease himself.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 196 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

The defence counsel, Abdulmumin Bello cited Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) saying that granting bail is at the court’s discretion but urged the court to exercise same judiciously.

Bello added that the defendant was still presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

The judge, Mr Saminu Suleiman admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety resident, within the court’s jurisdiction.

Suleiman ordered that the address of the surety must be verified by the court’s registra and adjourned the case until June 1 for hearing.