Two men, Ayodele Olalekan and Babangida Nwunyi, were on Tuesday arraigned before a Masaka Upper Area Court in Nasarawa State for alleged criminal conspiracy.
The accused persons of Jankawa Village, Masaka, are standing trial on a five-count charge of conspiracy, defamation of character, impersonation, criminal intimidation and attempt to “commit an offence to wit cheating”.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Frank Swem, said that on Aug. 8 at about 4:00p.m., two complainants, Oluseye Olojede and Idowu Alagbe, came to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Masaka and lodged a complaint.
Swem said that the first accused (Olalekan) wrongly accused the complainants of owing him N750,000.
He alleged that Olalekan and the 2nd accused (Nwunyi), who claimed to be an officer of the Nigerian Army, later threatened the complainants.
According to the prosecutor, the same Nwunyi came and threatened to arrest the complainants if they refused to pay his friend (Olalekan).
Swem said that it was discovered that Nwunyi was not an officer when the accused persons were arrested.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 97, 392, 132, 397 and 95 of the Penal Code.
The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.
The Judge, Mr Yakubu Ishaku, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N400,000 each with one surety each in like sum.
Ishaku said the sureties must be landlords and that their houses must be verified by the court staff.
He adjourned the case until Sept. 6 for hearing. (NAN)