AISHA ABUBAKAR
A man, Martin Ogiator and his wife, Wuraola Ogiator, have been arrested in the FCT, Abuja, for allegedly swindling a businessman, Uchenna Ademiluyi, the sum of N71m under the false pretence of executing a non-existing contract.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the two were charged before the Wuse Zone 2 Magistrate Court, Abuja on a four-count of conspiracy, breach of trust, cheating and misappropriation.
They however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Umoh Inah, told the Court that the victim, Ademiluyi, who resides at Prince and Princess Estate, Kaura, Abuja, reported the case at the Police Station hence the defendants were arrested and charged before the Court.
The prosecutor, Inah stated at the Court that the couple, residents of Efab Estate, Lokogoma, fraudulently obtained the said sum of money through their bank accounts under false pretences that they would execute contracts in some Federal Government agencies.
However, after obtaining the money, they bolted away as no contract was awarded, diverted the money and escaped. He said that the alleged offences that contravened the provisions of Sections 97, 312, 322 and 309 of the penal code.
The Presiding Magistrate, Abdulmajid Oniyangi, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N20 million each with two sureties in like sum, who must have means of livelihood and reside within the jurisdiction of the Court.
The Court also ordered that the sureties must submit their letters of employment, confirmation and last promotion in their places of work and if the sureties are business owners, their businesses should be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and their tax clearance certificates submitted to the Court’s registrar.
The matter was adjourned till 5th June, 2023, for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.