Court grants N1.6m bail to businessman accused of cheating

A businessman, Andrew Adama, 34, standing trial for criminal breach of trust and cheating, has been granted a N1.6 million bail by Karu Grade 1 Area Court, in Abuja.

The Judge, Hassan Ishaq, admitted the defendant to bail with two reliable and reasonable sureties in like sum.

He said the addresses of the sureties must be verified by the court, and that each surety must deposit his or her drivers licence or national identity card with the court’s registrar.

The judge also ordered that one of the sureties must be on Grade Level 10 or above in the civil service.

The prosecutor, Mahmud Ismail, had informed the court that the defendant was reported to Karu Police Station by one Saleh Yakubu of Karu, Abuja on March 29.

He said that the complainant had reported that between Sept. 2015 and July 2016, he entrusted the sum of N1.6 million to Adama for the purchase of plots of land within the FCT.

Ismail said the complainant also told the police that the defendant issued him with documents of land which were later found to be non-existent.

According to the prosecutor, during police investigation, the defendant had confessed to have used the money to purchase a Crysler luxury car with registration number KRD 498 EA.

The prosecutor said the police had since recovered the car.

According to him, the offences are contrary to the provisions of Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal code.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty, and the matter was adjourned till May 29, for hearing.