A jobless man, Umaru Adamu, 40, of Saraki Line, Dakwa, Dei-Dei, Abuja, was on Wednesday docked in a Grade 1 Area Court, Karu, Abuja for allegedly swindling a trader of N3.95million.
The police charged Adamu with criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, false personation and criminal intimidation.
The Prosecutor Counsel, Edwin Ochayi told the Judge, Umar Mayana that the defendant conspired with Ahmed Idris now at large, impersonated as staff who worked at office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Ochayi said Adamu placed an order for the supply of rug carpets valued at N3.95 million which were supplied and the receipt of the items was acknowledged.
The prosecutor said after the supply was acknowledged, Adamu promised to pay the complainant after five working days and on expiration of the proposed date, the defendant collected another N300,000 in disguise to use the money to process payment of the said N3.95 million.
He said after collecting the said N300,000, the defendant stopped picking the complainant’s call.
The offence, he said, contravenes the provisions of sections 97, 312, 322, 179 and 397 of the Penal Code.
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Mayana granted him bail in N4 million with two reasonable and reliable sureties who must live within the court jurisdiction and their address must be verified by the court officer and police.
Mayana directed that the sureties’ statements of account must be deposited at the Court Registry, and that the sureties must deposit N1.1 million and N500,000 as bond to the court registry.
The judge adjourned the case until Jan. 1, 2023 for further hearing.
