Estate Agent Docked For N1m Cheating

The police yesterday in Abuja arraigned an estate agent, Oliver Chinedu, in a Wuse Zone Two Magistrates’ Court for cheating a businessman of N1 million.
He is charged with criminal breach of trust, misappropriation and intimidation.
The prosecutor, Insp Andrew Aichenede, told the court that Mr Sunday Oluchi of Neighbourhood Centre, Wuse Zone 3 in Abuja lodged a report against the accused.
He said the report was made through a petition to the Commissioner of Police in the FCT in December 2013.
Aichenede said the accused had that sometimes in August 2013 fraudulently collected N1 million from the complainant.
“He (Chinedu) did this with the promise to secure a shop for him (Oluchi) at the Rocieno plaza in Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.”
He alleged that after the accused collected the said money he absconded to an unknown destination.
The prosecutor said the accused also threatened to deal with the complainant if he dared disturb him on phone again.
Aichenede said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 312, 309 and 397 of the Penal Code.
Chinedu is liable to a total of 14 years in prison or a fine, or both, if convicted.
After the charges were read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty and denied the allegations.
His counsel, Mr Obi Chukwuma, applied for the accused’s bail, saying “granting the accused bail will enable him prepare for trial”.
He also assured the court that the accused would not jump bail and would not interfere with police investigations.
The magistrate, Mr Shuaibu Usman, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1 million with a surety in like sum.
Usman ordered that the surety must be a businessman and have a fixed address which must be verified by the prosecutor and court registrar.
He added that the surety must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction, and later adjourned the case to April 2 for hearing.