Bizman In Court Over Fraud

The Police on Wednesday arraigned a 45-year-old businessman,
Obi Emenike, of No. 5 Valtern Street Maitama, Abuja, before a Senior
Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly issuing a dud cheque and cheating his
landlord.

Police prosecutor Okpanachi Abuh told the court that Emenike
was brought to the Maitama Area Command Metro Headquarters by Isah Ibrahim of
Peace Park Plaza, Abuja, on August 17.

Abuh said that Emenike issued a dud IBTC Chattered Bank Plc
cheque for N1.4 million to Ibrahim in June 2011 as rent for 2009 and 2010.

He said that when Ibrahim presented the said cheque to the
bank it was dishonoured “due to lack of funds in Emenike’s account’’.

The prosecutor added that the offence contravened the
provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Dishonoured Cheques Act Law, and 322 of the
Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His counsel, Asekome Oteiku, prayed the court to grant his
client bail based on the provisions of Section 340(1) and 341C2) ABC (3) of the
Criminal Procedure Code.

Oteiku said that based on Section 36(5) of the 1999
Constitution “a person charged with an offence is presumed innocent until
proven guilty’’.

Presiding Senior Magistrate Aliu Shafa granted the accused
bail in the sum of N500,000 with a surety in like sum.

He added that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction
of the court and swear to an affidavit of means.

Shafa adjourned further hearing in the case to September.
17.