Police arraign woman over alleged N4.8m fraud

The Police in Kaduna arraigned 45-year-old Chidima Chijioke before a Kaduna Chief Magistrate’s Court yesterday for allegedly defrauding a woman of several bags of flour worth N4.8 million.

The defendant, a resident of Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna, was arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, theft, and obtaining money under false pretences, to which she pleaded not guilty.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences in Kaduna sometime in 2023.

Leo said the defendant fraudulently obtained several bags of flour worth N4.8 million, the property of Francisca Raymond. He stated that the defendant fraudulently obtained the bags of flour with a promise to pay in instalments but failed to keep her side of the bargain.

He said the defendant issued a cheque to the complainant, which the bank rejected due to insufficient funds.

“Efforts made by the complainant to retrieve either the goods or the money proved abortive,” the prosecutor said.

Leo said the offence violates Sections 287, 314, and 411 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Emmanuel said the sureties must be gainfully employed and provide evidence of two years’ tax payment to the Kaduna State government.

He then adjourned the case until November 21 for a hearing.