Court admits 2 to N20m bail for alleged rice fraud
An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ibadan, on Thursday admitted two men to bail in the sum of N10 million each, in a case of obtaining money under false pretences.
The police charged Salisu Musa, 37, and Garuba Abubakar, 42, with conspiracy, fraud and illegal conversion of N10.2 million meant for supplying 500 bags of rice.
Both defendants, whose addresses were not disclosed, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Patricia Adetuyibi, ordered each of them to also produce two sureties in like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
Adetuyibi ruled that one of the sureties must be a landed property owner.
She adjourned the case until Aug.10 for substantive hearing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Insp Salewa Hammed, told the court that the defendants conspired to commit the fraud.
Hammed alleged that the defendants on April 25 at 10.00 a.m. at Bodija Market, Ibadan, fraudulently obtained N10. 2 million from one Mr Abdulazeez Musa.
According to the prosecutor, the money was meant for supply of 500 bags of rice.
She said that the duo unlawfully converted the money transferred from the complainant’s bank account to Musa’s First Bank account number 3126006526, to their personal use.
Hammed said that the offences contravened Sections 390(9), 419 and 516 of the Criminal Code Law of Oyo State 2000. (NAN)
