NAN-H-35
Scam
By Amen Gajira
Minna, July 17, 2017 (NAN) A Magistrates’ Court in Minna on Monday ordered the remand of two men, Ahmed Suleiman and Augustine Samuel, in prison custody over alleged job placement scam and impersonation.
The accused were arraigned on a five-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation, breach of trust, cheating and misappropriation.
The offences contravene Sections 97, 179, 312, 322 and 309 of the Penal Code.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Husseini Paiko, had told the court that 10 persons lodged a complaint with the Commissioner of Police in Niger against Suleiman on July 6.
Paiko said that the complainants were contacted by the first accused who introduced himself as an officer in the Federal Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
He said that Suleiman collected N659, 000 from the complainants on the pretext of securing jobs for them in the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Fire Service.
Paiko said that the complainants could not reach Suleiman for update on the job placement after they paid the money to him.
According to him, during police investigation, Suleiman was arrested and he confessed to collecting the amount and remitting same to Samuel who also claimed to work at the Defence Headquarters.
When the charge was read to the accused, Suleiman pleaded guilty while Samuel denied the allegation.
The prosecutor prayed the court to try the first accused person summarily in line with Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
He objected to a bail application by Samuel, and prayed for an adjournment to enable the police to complete their investigation.
The Magistrate, Mrs Fatima Auna, adjourned the case till July 19 for mention. (NAN)
AMEN/OIF/IGO
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(Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Ijeoma Popoola)