The police on Thursday arraigned Salisu Attahiru before a Wuse Chief Magistrates’ Court in Abuja for allegedly defrauding a Point-of-Sale operator of N1.5 million.

Attahiru was charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The police prosecutor, Faith Sunday, told the court that the complainant, Ibrahim Aliyu, reported the matter at the Trademore Police Station on August 11.

She alleged that the defendant visited the complainant’s PoS stand on August 10 and deceitfully instructed him to transfer N1.48 million to two separate bank accounts.

She added that the defendant also collected N50,000 in cash, bringing the total to N1.53 million, with a promise to refund the money on August 11, but failed to do so.

She stated that the offence contravened the provisions of Sections 311 and 320 of the Penal Code.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Defence counsel, K.C. Nwaigbo, applied for bail on behalf of the defendant, citing Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution as well as Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

Mr Nwaigbo urged the court to exercise its discretion judiciously by granting the defendant bail, adding that a reliable surety would be provided.

Magistrate Ekpeyong Inyang granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1.5 million with two sureties, who must each depose to an affidavit of means of livelihood and present valid identification.

Ms Inyang ordered that the addresses of the sureties be verified by the court registrar.

She adjourned the case until September 8 for hearing.

 (NAN)