The police on Wednesday docked Umaru Adamu, 40, in a Grade 1 Area Court, Karu, Abuja for allegedly swindling a trader of N3.95 million.

Mr Adamu was charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, false personation and criminal intimidation.

Prosecution counsel Edwin Ochayi told the court that the defendant conspired with Ahmed Idris now at large, impersonated as staff that worked at the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The court heard that Mr Adamu requested for the supply of rug carpets valued N3.95 million which were supplied and the receipt of the items was acknowledged.

Mr Ochayi said after the supply was acknowledged, the defendant promised to pay the complainant after five working days and on expiration of the proposed date, the defendant collected another N300,000 in disguise to use the money to process payment of the said N3.95 million.

The prosecutor said after collecting the said N300,000, the defendant stopped picking the complainant’s call.

The offence, he said, contravenes the provisions of sections 97, 312, 322, 179 and 397 of the Penal Code.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Judge Umar Mayana granted him bail in the sum of N4 million with two reasonable and reliable sureties who must live within the court jurisdiction. The judge said their addresses must be verified by the court officer and the police.

Mr Mayana ordered that the sureties’ statements of account must be deposited at the court registry.

He also ordered that the sureties must deposit the sum of N1.1 million and N500,000 as bond to the court registry.

The judge adjourned the case until January 1, 2023 for further hearing. 

(NAN)