A 38-year-old farmer, Ushe’u Shuaibu, who allegedly cheated his friend of N5 million was on Wednesday arraigned before a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court.
The defendant, who resides at Rumi Village, Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State, is being tried for breach of trust and cheating.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Leo Chidi, told the court that one Umar Mukhtar of Ungwan Uku, Kano State, had on June 6, reported the matter at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligent Department for further investigation.
According to the prosecutor, sometime in 2016, the complainant entrusted N5 million cash to the defendant to help him buy bags of dry pepper for storage.
Chidi alleged that rather than fulfil the business arrangement, the defendant bought the pepper, sold it and converted the capital and proceed to his own personal use without the complainant’s knowledge.
The prosecutor told the court that ever since, the defendant had refused to return the complainant’s money.
The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 297 and 307 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law 2017.
The Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He held that one of the sureties must be the defendant’s relative who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the matter until Aug. 30 for mention.
