Three persons arraigned for loan fraud, dud cheque scam

By Sodiq Adelakun

A group of three individuals have been presented before the Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly taking out a loan of N2.5 million and issuing a dud cheque.

The defendants, named as Oliver Qussa, Azignon Appoeinane, and Kiki Dorcas, are facing six charges in total. The trio’s addresses have not been disclosed.

The trio pleaded not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretense, issuance of dud cheque, breach of public peace and stealing.

The Prosecutor, Insp Magaji Haruna, told the court that the defendants committed the offences between the months of September to December, at Infinity Microfinance Bank, Sabo Market, Yaba, Lagos.

Haruna alleged that the first defendant, Qussa, took a loan of N2.5 million from Infinity Microfinance Bank and got the second and third defendants to stand as his guarantors.

He submitted that when Qussa defaulted and breached the mutual agreement, the guarantors were also arrested.

He explained that as a means to settle the payment, the second defendant issued a Wema Bank dud cheque of N2.5 million that was dishonoured due to insufficient credit balance.

The offences, Haruna said, contravene Sections 168, 280, 314 (3), 321(b), 325 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Magistrate, Mrs O. Y. Adefope, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two responsible sureties each in like sum.

Adefope said the sureties must be gainfully employed and show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos state government.