From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Salihu Nasiru Ibrahim, said to be son of a Director at the National Agricultural Biotechnology Development Agency in Abuja has been arraigned before the Port Harcourt Chief Magistrates’ Court, Rivers State over alleged N15 millions fraud.
Ibrahim, 22, according the charge preferred against him by the Rivers State Police Command, was accused of obtaining the sum N15 million from one Grace Ogolo, to help her change it at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Dollars at government rate, but he refused to change or return the money since July 2022.
The charge sheet prepared by SP Sewari Alpheaus, stated that the offence contravened Section 1 (b, c) and is punishable under Section 1 (2, 3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Laws of the Federation 2006.
In the count two of the charge, it was alleged that Ibrahim forged Police Identity Card, while impersonating as a police officer.
The prosecution said other forgeries would be unveiled as the case progressed.
The defendant is currently standing trial before Magistrate A.O Amadi-Nna however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the defence team led by Leticia Mukoro, applied for the bail of the defendant.
Mukoro, while applying for the bail of Ibrahim quoted Section 18 of Magistrate Court Law of 2004, which, she said empowered the court to grant bail to the accused.
The defendant’s lawyer,said the Supreme Court position was that as long as the case did not have capital punishment, bail could be granted by the Chief Magistrate.
She mentioned that there was an existing relationship between the defendant, and complainant, who she said knew that Ibrahim was not a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or Bureau De Change (BDC) to expect him to change money into foreign exchange.
She also said settlement of the case was underway, and that the accused was a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who should be allowed to go out and serve his fatherland.
The prosecutor, however, opposed the bail application. The complaint lawyer, Benjamin Awuse who was present in court also pleaded with the magistrate not to grant bail to the defendant.
Supporting the opposition for bail, Benjamin Awuse, the oversight counsel for the complainant, said the statement by the accused had admitted committing the listed offences.
Meanwhile, the Chief Magistrate has fixed January 23, 2023, for ruling on bail application.
