Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court, on Monday, ordered a businessman, Vincent Timothy, to be remanded in prison custody for issuing dud cheques totalling N20 million.

Mr Timothy, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

“The defendant shall be remanded in the correctional centre pending ruling on his bail application,” the judge said.

Mr Khobo thereafter adjourned the case until May 12 for a ruling on the bail application.

Earlier, EFCC’s counsel, E. K. Garba, had told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in January.

Mr Garba said the defendant took a N20 million loan from Aires Financial Services Limited, which was to be returned at a later date.

The lawyer disclosed that the defendant later issued five dud cheques, each for N4 million, which were all dishonoured due to insufficient funds in his account.

The defence’s lawyer, A. M. Sunday, however, asked the court to grant bail to the defendant.

He said that the defendant had voluntarily reported to the EFCC office on April 3, after being invited by the anti-graft agency.

(NAN)