62-year-old man in court over alleged property fraud
NAN-H-58
Cheating
By Sylvester Thompson
Abuja, Jan.20, 2017 (NAN) A 62-year-old man, Mr Isong Ekpo, was on Friday arraigned in a Gudu Upper Area Court, Abuja, for alleged property swindle.
Ekpo, of Lugbe Zone 5, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.
The Upper Area Court Judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N600, 000.
Kagarko also ordered the defendant to produce a reliable surety who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned hearing till March 3.
The Prosecutor, Mr Fidelis Ugochukwu, told the court that one Mr Kalu Edmund wrote a petition to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command dated Nov. 8, 2016.
Ugochukwu alleged that sometime in 2014, the defendant purchased 9 units of self contained house situated at Zone 6, Lugbe at the rate of N1.5million.
“He paid an initial deposit of N200, 000, with an undertaking to pay the balance within few months,’’ he told the court.
The prosecutor also alleged that the defendant went and took possession of the said property and had been parading himself as the owner.
According to Ugochukwu, he also rented out the said property to tenants, converting the proceeds for his own personal use.
“During police investigation, it was discovered that the defendant had sold out part of the apartment without the consent of the owner which he admitted in his statement,’’ the prosecutor said.
He said that the offence was contrary to sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code. (NAN)
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Edited by Obike Ukoh
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