14th March, 2012
The Police in Abuja on Tuesday arraigned an Estate Agent, Obinna Enoch of Durumi 1, Abuja, before a senior magistrates’ court charged with breach of trust and cheating.
The police prosecutor, Emmanuel Adikwu, told the court that the case was reported at Maitama police station by Miss Christy Abu of Kubwa and seven others.
Adikwu said that sometime in June 2011, the accused who claimed to be an estate agent, collected various sums of money from Christy Abu, Abugu Stanley and Clement Ovigue.
Others include Onyiyedu Ikpenma, Nafisat, Karachi, Chioma and Michael Ozoemelama.
He said that the accused collected from Abu, N850,000; Stanley, N500,000; Ovigue, N700,000; Ikpenma, N1.6m; and Nafisat, N450,000.
The prosecutor said that the accused also collected from Karachi, N500,000; Chioma, N200,000; and Ozoemelama, N600,000.
Adikwe said the accused collected N5.4 million from the complainants for one room apartment each at 12, Freetown Street, Wuse II, Abuja.
He said that when the complainants were about to move into the apartment, it was discovered that the property belonged to Kola Abiola, the son of late MKO Abiola.
Adikwu said that the property was later demolished by the owner, and most of the occupants were rendered homeless.
He said when the accused discovered that the complainants were homeless, he absconded to an unknown destination.
The prosecutor said that the offence contravened Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and his counsel, Nna Emeka, applied for his bail.
Senior Magistrate Alkali Bashir refused to grant the accused bail, and ordered that he should be remanded in police custody.
He adjourned the case to March 28 for further hearing.