Tenant Docked Over Dud Cheque

The police at the Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos Island, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, have arraigned a man, Godfrey Shitgurum, 53, before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court on a three-count charge of issuing dud cheques to his landlord.

The police alleged that the accused issued a Fidelity Bank cheque leaflet to his landlord, Magnus Lukula on behalf of his company, Duncan Maritime Venture Nigeria Ltd. when he knew he did not have money in the account.

He was also accused of wilfully and maliciously destroying a sign board valued at N10, 000, property of Magnus Lukula which he had used in advertising his property for sale.

After investigation, he was charged before the court for fraud and malicious damages likely to cause breach of the peace, offences which according to the prosecuting police officer, ASP Ogbonna Felix, are contrary to and punishable under Section (1)(2), (b), (ii) of the Dishonoured Cheque Act, Cap. 102 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990, Sections 457 and 249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap. C 17,Vol. 11,Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 1973.

One of the count reads: “That you, Godfrey Shitgurum on 31 January, 2009, on 27 February 2009 and 31 March, 2009, respectively at Ikeja, Lagos Magisterial District did issue Fidelity Bank cheques leaflet numbers 00022234, 00022235 and 00022236 for the sum of N76m, N38m and N38m to your landlord, Magnus Lukula on behalf of your company, Duncan Maritime Venture Nigeria Ltd., which on presentation, were

—Paul Iyoghojie