The police on Tuesday arraigned a businesswoman, Ada Amaonyeana-Eze and Samuel Obisi, in a Kado Grade I Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly swindling business owners.
The police charged, Amaonyeana-Eze, 30 and Obisi, 37 with criminal conspiracy and cheating.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Stanley Nwafoaku, told the court that on March 28 at about 6 p.m, Blessing Sule and Ochiagha Onyinje on behalf of other traders of the Wuse Market, Abuja, reported the matter at Wuse Police Station.
Nwafoaku said between January and December 2022, the complainants had a thrift arrangement where they all contributed N2 million to the defendants.
He alleged that the complainants agreed to collect their money in December; however, the defendants refused to pay them till date.
The prosecution counsel told the court that during police investigation, the defendants admitted to the crime and confessed to have invested the money in another business and promised to pay.
Nwafoaku told the court that the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 97 and 322 of the penal code law.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Defence Counsel, Charity Nwosu made an oral bail application, citing Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 158 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, assuring that the defendants would not jump bail, if granted.
The prosecution counsel, however, did not object to the bail application made by the defense counsel.
The Judge, Malam uhammed Wakili, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1 million and one surety each in like sum.
Wakili ordered that the sureties must provide a Bank Verification Number(BVN) print out, recent passport photograph and a valid identification card, which must be verified by the court registrar.
The Judge adjourned the matter until May 25, for hearing.
