ABUJA – An Abuja-based contractor, Abiodun Olusoji, 34, was on Thursday arraigned in a Senior Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone 2 for cheating his business partner of N2.3 million.
Olusoji, who resides at Gwarimpa, Abuja, is charged with criminal breach of trust, impersonation, threat to life and cheating.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Christopher Johnson, said Mr Paul Oyedemi of Pegi Housing Estate, Abuja, complained through a petition addressed to an Assistant Inspector-General of Police sometime in July, 2013.
He said that sometime in 2011, the accused told the complainant that he was a staff member of INEC, Abuja, and asked him to supply clear and transparent files to INEC office in Benin.
The prosecutor said the complainant supplied files valued N2, 330, 375 as directed by the accused to Benin office.
Johnson said the accused dishonestly went and received the payment for the files and absconded to an unknown destination.
The prosecutor said that after much effort the complainant located the accused.
He said the accused thereafter issued the complainant a cheque for the said amount which was rejected by his bank because of lack of funds his account.
Accoriding to the prosecutor, the accused threatened to deal with the complainant if he asked for the money again.
Johnson said the accused confessed during police investigation that he was not a member of INEC staff, and that he collected the money and converted it to his personal use.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 312, 397 and 322 of Penal Code.
The Magistrate, Mrs Folashade Oyekan, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant on GL. 7 or above, and should submit a photocopy of his/her last promotion letter.
The second surety, the magistrate said, must be a businessman with any means of identification.
Oyekan added that the two sureties must swear to affidavit of means, provide a passport photograph each and must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
She adjourned the case untill Apr. 23 for further hearing. (NAN)
