Police Arraign Cow Dealer Over N2.5m Fraud

The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) arm of the Nigeria Police Force, Ikoyi-Lagos, Monday, arraigned a 24 year-old cow dealer, Hussaini Mohammed, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, for allegedly defrauding one of his customers to the tune of N2.5 million.

The defendant according to the police committed the offence sometimes in March 2017, in Agege area of Lagos State.

He was alleged to have defrauded the victim, one Usman Mohammad, under false pretence of assisting him to buy some cows.

He was arraigned Monday, on charges bordering on obtaining under false pretence and stealing. The offences according to the prosecutor, Mr. Henry Obiazi, are contrary to and punishable under sections 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. And  Section 390(8)(c) of the Criminal Code Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his plea, the prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendant pending the conclusion of trial.

However, the defendant’s counsel, Yakubu Eleto, while urging the court for a short date to enable him file the defendant’s bail application, told the court that he was only served with the charge at the court’s premises today.

He also told the court the the police had earlier charge the defendant before a magistrate court and the charge had been dismissed. Adding that the matter that led to the charge against his client was a business transaction and not a criminal case.

He however, pleaded with the court for a short date to the enable him file his bail application.

Following the submission of the defendant’s counsel, the presiding judge, Justice Saidu, while ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody, adjourned the matter till April 10, for hearing his bail application.