Man, 41, remanded over impersonation, extortion

A Gombe State magistrate’s court sitting at Tumfure has ordered a 41-year-old man to be remanded in prison custody over alleged impersonation and attempt to extort money from a trader.

The accused person, Kachalla Yankurama of Giri Airport road in Gwagwalada, Abuja was alleged to have impersonated an officer of the Nigerian Army with intention to commit an offense of cheating.

According to the police First Information Report (FIR), Yankurama on January 28 and April 30, 2018 respectively went to a shop of one Sadiqu Shehu at Gombe Main market, where he allegedly paraded himself as Captain Haruna of the Nigerian Army and asked for certain amount of money.

The police prosecuting officer, Inspector Habibu Danjuma, said the accused person was arrested by passersby before he could obtain the said amount of money from the shopkeeper.

Yankurama was charged with two-count charge of impersonating and cheating, offences the prosecutor said were contrary to sections 95 and 132 of the penal code law. He pleaded not guilty.

In view of his plea, Danjuma applied for a new date to enable police conclude investigation.

The presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Japhet Maida, granted the application and adjourned the case to May 23 for continuation of hearing.