Businessman docked for allegedly cheating client N1.3m

A 67-year-old businessman, Dike Anthony, was on Tuesday arraigned at an Upper Area Court in Gwagwalada, FCT, for allegedly cheating a client of N1.35 million.

The police charged Anthony with criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The Prosecution Counsel, Abdullahi Tanko told the court that the complainant, Chidimma Ugwu of Central Area, Abuja, reported the matter at Airport police station on May 18.

Tanko said that the complainant on January 31, based on trust, gave the defendant the sum of N1,350,000 as part payment for the purpose of purchasing ticket and working visa for her client.

He said that the defendant converted the money to his personal use instead of purchasing the ticket.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provision of sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Defence Counsel, Afamefuna Ekekwe prayed the court to grant his client bail, saying that he was an elderly man and has underlying health condition.

Ekekwe cited sections 158, 161 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended to back up his claims for bail.

He promised that the defendant would always be in court until the determination of the case after the prosecutor refused the bail of the defendant.

The Judge, Sani Umar admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1.5 million with one surety in like sum who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

Umar ordered that the surety must own a house or land worth N1.5million or more and the address of the surety must be verified.

He said the surety must provide means of identification and must provide two recent passport photographs.

He said that if the defendant fails to meet the bail conditions, he should be remanded in Suleja correctional centre.

Umar adjourned the case until July 27 for hearing.