Forty three years old who claimed to be a lawyer has been remanded in Minna Federal Correctional Custody on the order of Senior Magistrate Halima Balaraba for alleged kidnapping and Impersonation.
Samuel Idu, an indigene of Benue State was arraigned by operatives of the Special Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (SIIB) of the Niger State Police Command, on four count charge which bordered on Criminal breach of trust, Cheating, arrangement for self kidnapping and false representation as a kidnapped person.
According to the police Prosecutor, Asp Emmanuel Bassa, the four count charge contravened sections 312,323, 324 and 309 of the penal code law and section 6 (1) and(2) of Niger State Anti Kidnapping and cattle rustling law Act 2018 as amended.
In the Police First Information Report (FIR), marked, Mn/Cr/95/23 stated that on the 19th October, 2023 One Deborah Omeiza of Brighter group of companies in Minna reported via referral from Chief Magistrate Court three that on the 30th of July, 2023:
“You Samuel Idu of Sun City Estate in Abuja (FCT), presented yourself to her as a Barrister and also an American citizen knowing fully that, it is a false claim and lured her into a marriage relationship by inducing her into believing that you are a responsible person.
“That while dating her, you deliberately lied to her that you traveled to the United States of America (USA), and United Arab Emirate (UAE) Dubai, and had on different occasion, you deceitfully obtained monies from her ranging to the sum of N5,400,000 through your First Bank account number, 3068701165 to solve some pressing problems under the pretense of paying back when you return to Nigeria.
“And that furtherance, you claimed you have arrived at International airport Abuja and falsely represent your self as to be kidnapped and needed N10,000,000″ the charge sheet explained.
The prosecutor further told the court that the defendant said he has N6,900,000 and demanded the sum of N 3,100,000 from the plaintiff to complete the money for payment of ransom and when she could not get the money she sent him N100,000 through his bank account ” which you dishonestly converted to your personal use.
“Police operatives swung into action through intelligent and arrested you Samuel Idu in Senate Hotels in Kaduna State and during police investigation, you confessed to have faked your Kidnapping and deceitfully collected the said amount of the money from the complainant under false pretense in order to enrich yourself wrongfully.”
When the charge was read to the defendant by the presiding Chief Magistrate Halima Balaraba he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Prosecutor Asp Emmanuel Bassa then requested for new date for further mention of the case and he prayed the court to remand him in Correctional Custody.
While granting the prayer of the Prosecutor, she then remanded him and adjourned the case till ninth of November.
