The Chief Magistrates’ Court, Wuse, Abuja, has remanded a 47-year-old businessman, ThankGod Emechebe, in prison for alleged cheating of N35 million for the supply of solar streetlights.

The police charged the defendant with criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The magistrate, Fareeda Ibrahim, ordered the defence counsel, C. I Nnemeka to make a formal bail application for the defendant and adjourned the matter until Sept.29 for bail consideration and Oct.9 for hearing of the matter.

Earlier, the prosecuting counsel, Edwin Inegbenoise, told the court that the complainant, Titilope Adenuga, reported the matter to the office of the Commissioner of Police, FCT command.

Mr Inegbenoise added that Mr Adenuga reported on behalf of her boss, Habib Anifowose, who alleged that the defendant approached them to supply 350 pieces of solar streetlights on Sept.22.

He added that the complainant and defendant agreed at the rate of N175,000 for each of the lights and an advance payment of N35 million was paid to the defendant.

“The defendant absconded and did not deliver the lights to the complainant.

“During police investigations, he was granted administrative bail, but he jumped bail and was eventually tracked and arrested,” Mr Inegbenoise alleged.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Sections 312 and 320 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

The defence counsel made a bail application and relied on section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution, which states that the defendant is innocent until proven otherwise and urged the court to grant it.

The prosecution opposed the bail application and drew the court’s attention to the fact that the defendant jumped administrative bail.

(NAN)