Furniture maker docked for allegedly swindling client of N400, 000

By Talatu Maiwada

A 26-year-old furniture maker, Wisdom Okonkwo, was docked in  a Dei-dei Grade I Area Court in Abuja for allegedly swindling his client of N400, 000.

The police charged Okonkwo is charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating.

He however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Chinedu Ogada told the court that, Mr Aaron Lungu of Rufas Nduba Crescent Dawaki Abuja, reported the matter at Dawaki Police Station on May1, by 9:00am.

Ogada alleged that the complainant contacted the defendant to make a bed, side stools and shoe rack and the defendant charged him N550, 000.

He said the complainant paid a deposit of N400, 000 with an agreement to pay the balance of N150, 000 after delivery of the furniture.

The police told the court that after the defendant received the money, he refused to pick the complainant’s calls and eventually blocked his phone line.

According to him, all effort made by Lungu to reach out to Okonkwo to recover his money or the furniture  failed.

Ogada said that during police investigation, the defendant was arrested and he confessed that he committed the crime.

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

Ms Ngozi Ogele, Counsel to the defendant, prayed the court to grant her client bail in the most liberal terms.

The prosecution counsel however, opposed the bail of the defendant saying, the defendant allegedly committed an offence and ran to an unknown destination and may likely run again.

Ogele, in reply to the counsel, opposed his prayers and urged the court to use its discretion to grant bail in favour of the defendant.

She added that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Judge, Malam Saminu Suleiman, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum N100, 000, with one surety in like sum.

Suleiman, ordered that the surety must be reliable with a means of livelihood who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He ordered that the surety must provide a BVN print out, a recent passport photograph and a valid identification card, which must be verified by the court registrar.

The Judge adjourned the matter until June 1, for hearing.

(NAN)