NAN-H-58
Cheque
Jos, May 16, 2017 (NAN) A medical doctor, Patrick Nwosu, has dragged a Jos-based businessman, Marius Chuka, 39, before a Plateau State High Court in Jos, for allegedly issuing two dud cheques.
The cheques – for N1 million and N200,000 – dated July 24 and July 25, 2013 were for the part payment of loans Chuka collected from Nwosu.
Chuka, a resident of Bukuru Low Cost Housing Estate in Jos-Bukuru Metropolis, is facing a four-count charge of theft, cheating, forgery and issuance of dud cheques.
When the defendant appeared before Justice Christine Dabu on Tuesday, however, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the prosecution counsel, Mr Napdul Kurfa, the defendant had consistently collected loans from Nwosu, said to be his friend.
“When the monies rose to N2.2 million, Nwosu demanded repayment and Chuka issued the said cheques in favour of the former, which were not honoured by the bank “because of insufficient funds in the account”.
He alleged that the accused also visited the residence of the plaintiff and stole ATM cards with which he withdrew a total of N1.49 million at Access Bank, FCMB and ECOBANK.
Chuka, the prosecutor further alleged, forged the signature of Nwosu in a letter to Access bank, where he withdrew a total of N1.38 million from the complainant’s fixed deposit in the bank.
The prosecution said that the offences were contrary to, and punishable under sections 287, 288, 286, 287, 263 and 264 of Penal Code Laws of Plateau.
Kurfa then applied for an adjournment to enable the accused get a lawyer to defend him at the next hearing date.
“My Lord, since the accused has taken his plea, I wish to apply for an adjournment to enable us prepare for the case and to enable the accused to secure the services of a counsel.
“I hope that by the time we resume, subject to convenience of the court, he would have secured a lawyer to defend him, ’’ the prosecution counsel prayed.
He also prayed the court to remand Chuka in Prison Custody, pending the resumption of the case.
However, the defendant quickly objected to the application for his remand in custody.
“My Lord, I don’t think that is necessary since I came here on my own; I will never fail to come to court.’’
But the judge told him (Chuka) to get a counsel to formally apply for his bail and ordered that he be kept in Prison custody while the case was adjourned to May 29, 2017 for further mention. (NAN)
TYC/AOS/ETS
===========
Edited by Bayo Sekoni and Ephraims Sheyin