MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 44-year old man, Jude Agazie, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly swindling a married woman, Mrs. Anthonia Ojukwu, to the tune of the sum of N4m by giving her dud bank cheques.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Agazie, has been arrested and charged for the alleged criminal offence.
The incident happened at Mafoluku area of Oshodi, Lagos, where the suspect issued the cheques over an undisclosed business transactions.
According to the Police, the suspect, Agazie, had on January and February, 2024 issued two Access Bank cheques with numbers 1705202841 and 105202838 to the tune of the amount in question to the complainant.
However, when the complainant went to the bank and presented the cheques for payment, the bank informed the complainant that the account was empty and there was no money in it.
The matter was reported to the Police at Makinde Division and Agazie was trailed, eventually arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over the alleged conduct.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to have issued the cheques and he was aware that he had no money in the account but did not know how to pay her the money.
The Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conduct likely to cause breach of public peace and issuing bounced cheques, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Benson Emerhi, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. M.A. Owolabi, granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded IN custody at the correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions