A 29-year-old businessman, Fatiu Mustapha, was on Tuesday arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Wuse for allegedly cheating a trader, Mr Hassan Haruna, of rice and beans worth N550,000.

The police charged Mustapha with criminal breach of trust and cheating, offences that contravene Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

Prosecution counsel Simpa Ibrahim told the court that Haruna reported the matter on Aug. 9 at Kabusa Police Station.

He alleged that the defendant bought 23 bags each of rice and beans worth N3 million in May, made part payment, but failed to pay the remaining N550,000, and had since ignored calls from the complainant.

Mustapha pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His lawyer, O.J. Ada, applied for bail under Sections 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 158 & 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), assuring the court that a reliable surety would be provided.

Magistrate Ekpeyong Inyang granted bail with a N50,000 deposit and one surety with a valid ID.

The surety’s address is to be verified by the court registrar.

The case was adjourned to Sept. 23 for hearing.

 (NAN)