Man arraigned over cheating
The police yesterday arraigned a middleaged man before an Upper Area Court, sitting in Karu, Abuja, for cheating.
The defendant, Christian Okoli, was accused of adjusting the pre-paid meter issued to him by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), the complainant in the matter and illegally consumed 14, 328 kw/h valued at N525, 120. 20 without paying.
The police FIR dated February 7, 2017 reads, “On December 19, 2016 at about 4.00p.m., one Otuok Paintian Bobby Oselumese of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) came to the station and reported that on the 28th November, 2016, they came to you, Christian Okoli of Richway Hotel, Nyanya, Area A, Abuja and discovered that you have adjusted your hotel meter and illegally consumed 14, 328 kw/h, valued N525, 120, 20 without paying.”
The defendant was accused of cheating, an offence that is contrary to Section 322 of the Penal Code Law.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the allegation and his counsel, Tony Ogbulafor pleaded with the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.
While arguing the bail application, Ogbulafor said the defendant is a family man and will be present in court to face his trial if granted bail.
Opposing the application for bail, the prosecution counsel, Mahmud Lawal, cited several cases, including the case of Bamaiyi versus the State which was reported in 2001.
He said even though the court has the discretion to grant bail, there are certain conditions that must be met before bail can be granted.
The trial judge, Justice Hassan Ishaq, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500, 000 and two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties, he said, must be a civil servant of not less than grade level 10 and the second must be a businessman and both must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court.
The court adjourned the matter till April 4, 2017 for hearing.