School Owner Charged Over Dud Cheque

The Director of Camp David Schools, Ogba, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, has been charged before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly issuing a N.9 million dud cheque to a man as part payment for the purchase of the man’s school.

The school director, Daniel Silva, was alleged to have a various times issued separate Sterling Bank cheques valued at over N900,000 to  Lawrence Nwaeze, knowing full well that he did not have such amount in his bank account.

The cheque, according to the police represented part payment to Nwaeze for the purchase of his school, Clinton School, Ogba.

The police alleged that Nwaeze had agree to sell his school for N2 million to Silva who issued post dated cheques as part payment

The police however noted that when the cheques were presented for payment by Nwaeze at a Sterling Bank branch, the bank’s officials found that there was insufficient money in Silva’s account.

Part of the two-count charge filed against Silva reads: “That you Daniel Silva on or before April 2012 at Ogba issued Sterling Bank cheques No. 05724151 valued at N400,000 and No. 05724153 valued at N500,000 to Lawrence Nwaeze which was returned unpaid on presentation to the bank for lack of sufficient fund and thereby committed an offence punishable under the Dishonoured Cheques Act, Laws of the Federation.”

Silva, however, pleaded not quilty to the charge and was granted bail by the presiding magistrate, Sule Hamsat in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties who must be employed and resident in Lagos.

The matter was adjourned till 30 September, 2013 for trial.

—Henry Ojelu