Court imposes N2m bail each on cheating couple

The gavel of justice

A man and his wife were on Thursday arraigned in a Wuse Zone 6 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for cheating.

The defendants Glory Elisha, 36, and Yohanna Elisha, 45, of CBN Estate, Garki 2, Abuja, were arraigned for breach of trust and cheating.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Prosecuting counsel, Nnamani Emmanuel, told the court that Alomaja Olajide of Area 2, Garki, Abuja, reported the matter at the Garki Police Station on Aug. 4.

He said that sometime in May 2014, the defendants conspired and approached him in his office under false pretext that they want to sell their house located at Garki, Abuja.

“The couple told the complainant to bring N10, 800, 000 for the house which he paid as agreed.

“After purchasing the house the couple pleaded with the complainant to allow them stay for one year to enable them get a new house before he can fully take possession of the house,” Emmanuel said.

The prosecutor further said that unknown to Olajide, the defendants had already sold the house to Alhaji Musa Abubakar of CBN Estate, Utako, Abuja, at the rate of N25, 000, 000 before they sold it to him.

He added that during police investigation the defendants made confessional statements and N100, 000 was recovered from them.

Nnamani said that the offences contravened sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code, which attracts five years jail term with fine or both on conviction.

The Magistrate, Mrs Jacinta Okeke, however, granted the defendants bail in the sum of two million naira with one surety each in like sum.

She said that the sureties must be a civil servant not below grade level 8, and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

Okeke also said the sureties must tender two recent passport photographs or National Identity Card or driver licence.

He adjourned the matter till August 22 for further hearing.