A Life Camp Magistrates’ Court in Abuja, on Wednesday sentenced a 40-year-old car dealer, Henry Magege, to 12 months imprisonment for defrauding his client N6 million.

Magege, who lives in Akaraka village Idu, Abuja,  was convicted of criminal breach of trust, cheating, and  misappropriation.

He, however, pleaded guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Best Ojukwu, who sentenced the convict, however suspended the sentence for two months, in order for the convict  to pay off the money .

However Ojukwu, did not totally free the convict for the suspended two months but admitted him to bail in  the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that one of the sureties must pay N1 million and must reside within the courts jurisdiction.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel,  Charity Nwachukwu, told the court that the complainant, Charles Ochai, of Efab City Estate, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp police station on Jan 23.

Ms Nwachukwu said that the complainant was introduced to the convict by his childhood friend, Innocent Ezenwa, for a business transaction.

She informed the court that the complianant gave the convict a Toyota Corolla 2008, in September 2025 to sell for N9 million.

The police said the convict lied to the complainant that the buyer made a deposit of N3 million, and promised to pay off balance of N6 million by the following week.

She told the court that the convict sent N3 million to the complianant on January 1 but refused to pay the remaining balance and rather converted the money to his personal use.

Mr Nwachukwu informed the court that the convict wrote an undertaking four times on different dates to pay the balance, while the matter was in police station.

According to her, during police investigation, the convict made a confessional statement admitting to selling the car and using  the money for an investment.

The prosecutor said that offence contravened section 312, 322, and 309 of the Penal Code. 

(NAN)