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A 41-year-old woman, Blessing Musa was on Monday docked in a Gwagwalada Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly swindling a businessman of N1.3 million.
The police charged Musa, who lives in Gwagwalada, with criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Dabo Yakubu told the court that the matter was reported by Mr Saleh Momoh of Dawaki FCT, Abuja, on Jan. 13.
Yakubu said that the defendant, in 2013, deceived the complainant into believing that she can get him a piece of land for N1.3 million.
He said that after collecting the money from the complainant, the defendant produced fake land documents claiming them to be genuine.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 311 and 322 of the Penal Code.
According to section 312, whoever commits a criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment, which may extend to seven years or with a fine or both.
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Section 322 states that whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years or with a fine or both.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The defence counsel, Ms Fatima Sanni, urged the court to grant her client bail.
She cited section 36(5) of the 1999 constitution as amended and sections 158, 162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) to back her plea.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Munir Sani, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of 500,000 with two reasonable sureties in like sum.
Sani said the first surety must provide his/her statement of account containing N500,000 and a National Identity Card or driver’s license.
He also said that the second surety must provide an affidavit of where he/she resides and a National Identity Card or driver’s license.
He adjourned the case until March 29 for hearing.
