- Safiu Kehinde
Three businessmen, Tahiru muktar, Rabiu Dahiru and Habibi Muhammed, were, on Tuesday, arraigned in Gwagwalada Magistrates’ Court for allegedly cheating their business partners of N17 million.
The defendants who all reside in Phase 111 Gwagwalada, FCT, were charged with criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and cheating.
The Prosecution Counsel, Dabo Yakubu told the court that the complainants, Mubarak Dan-Alkhale of Mariga in Niger state and Salihu Abdullahi of Argungu in Kebbi state reported the matter at Area Command office Gwagwalada on Oct. 3.
Dabo narrated how the defendants had, sometimes in April, conspired and deceived the complainants to introduce them to a business.
He said that the defendant promised to enter into a business deal where they could get paid in US dollars.
The defendants collected N17,646 million from the complainants and their relatives.
This, according to the prosecutor, contravened the provisions of Sections 312, 97 and 322 of the Penal Code.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Meanwhile, the Defence Counsel, Chigozie Eze in his bail application prayed the court to grant his clients bail in most liberal terms.
Eze cited Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to buttress his claims for bail.
Magistrate Olatunji Oladunmoye admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N5 Millon each with one surety each in like sum.
Oladunmoye ordered that the sureties must be working in a reputable organisation within the jurisdiction of the court.
He adjourned the case until Nov. 18 for hearing