Two middle aged men who specialized in defrauding unsuspecting cement dealers of their money have been ordered to be remanded in Minna custodial Centre by the Minna Chief Magistrate Court 2.
They are Muazu Mohammed and Aliyu Mohammed both residents of Kontagora town in Niger State.
The operatives of the State Investigation and intelligent Bureau (SIIB), of the Niger State Police command arraigned the two defendants on five count charge which bothered on criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, criminal misapriopriation, cheating and intimidation.
According to the Police prosecutor, ASP Ahmed Saidu, the five count charge contravened sections 97, 312, 322, 309 and 397 of the penal code law.
The prosecutor told the court that one Mr Ifeanyi Sunday Igwe of shop No 20 block C Talba building market in Minna reported to the police through a petition that on the 20th of August, 2022 he received a phone call from the user of GSM 08026302022.
“Having introduced himself as Dangote Cement Dealer offered to sell to him six hundred (600) bags of Dangote cement at the cost of N3,600 per bag.
“The caller sent him a Zenith bank account number 2750306012 with account name Mohammed Mahmud and asked the complainant to pay N2, 160,000 as the total cost of 600 bags of cement, the complainant paid the sum of N1, 300,000.00k into the said account with the promise to balance up on 22 of August, 2022. After the delivery of the goods.
“After he paid the money, the said dealer acknowledged receipt and later barred the complainant from reaching him. Police SIIB operatives swung into action and arrested you Muazu Mohammed of FCE road in Kontagora and you Aliyu Mohammed of Dadin Kowa area of Kontagora.
“During police investigation you both confessed to the crime, further investigation revealed that both of you conspired with you Shagari now at large and deceitfully staged the fake transaction where you collected N1, 300,000.00k from the complainant and shared it among yourselves”
When the charges were read to them by the Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Hassan Umar, they both pleaded not guilty to the five count charges.
The police Prosecutor Asp Ahmed Saidu objected to the bail of the defendants on the ground that investigation in the the case is still on going ” granting them bail at this point in time my Lord, they temper with police investigation. Also they will jump bail because they are not residing within the jurisdiction of this court. My Lord I vehemently objected to their bail”
The defence counsel to the defendants Barrister Mohammed Tsado Mohammed requested the court to admit them on bail on liberal terms saying that they presume innocent untill prove otherwise by court..
The chief Magistrate then ordered their remand in correctional custody pending the ruling on the oral application of the defense counsel.
She then adjourned the case to the 18 of September 2022.
