Farmer arraigned for allegedly defrauding friend N550,000

A farmer, Festus Williams, 40, was on Wednesday arraigned in Kaduna for allegedly defrauding his friend of N550,000.

Williams, who lives at Ungwan Maigero, Kaduna, is charged with criminal breach of trust and fraud.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges before a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The prosecutor, Insp Chidi Leo, told the court that the complainant, Mr Simon Dauda, who resides at the same address with the defendant, reported the matter at Karji Police Station on June 28.

Leo told the court that sometime in September 2022, the complainant gave the defendant N550,000 to buy bags of beans and corn for him.

He said that the defendant collected the money and dishonestly converted it to his personal use.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 204 and 315 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State.

The Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Emmanuel, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety, who must be his blood relation.

Emmanuel adjourned the case until July 27 for hearing.