By Kayode Adeoti
The Chairman of KAMWIRE Industries, Engr. Kamaldeen Yusuf was recently duped to the tune of N6million by a 66-year-old businessman, Abdulkadir Danhute from Sokoto State.
Danhute was said to have offered KAMWIRE a dud cheque following business transaction between the duo.
In order to recover his money, Engr Yusuf last Thursday, dragged Danhute before a Magistrate court, sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on the allegation of issuance of dud cheque contrary to section 1(a)(b) of dishonoured cheque offences law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The First Information Report revealed that Danhute of No 5 Lodge Road GRA Sokoto State issued Access bank post-dated cheques dated 23rd February, 2018 and 23 March, 2018.
It further added that when the cheques were presented to the bank, they were confirmed dud.
When the matter was mentioned last Thursday before Magistrate Muhammed Ibrahim, the court insisted against taking the accused plea for lack of jurisdiction.
The prosecutor, Yusuf Nasir however prayed the court for another date on the basis that police investigation is still ongoing on the matter.
On the issue of bail, he said the offence for which the accused was brought to court is not bailable as a matter of routine. He added that the accused has been giving flimsy excuses to the company he duped in order to evade arrest.
He further urged the court not to use the wisdom behind section 341.
He said, “If he’s admitted to bail, there is the likelihood that he will commit similar offence. There is every tendency that the accused will tamper with police investigation. Without much ado, we urge your worship to exercise discretionary power by not admitting the accused to bail,”
Nasir also informed the court that the accused person may jump bail because he’s not residing within the court jurisdiction.
The accused counsel, Audu Abdullateef approached the court for his client’s bail on health ground. He added that his client has failing health and on the advice of his doctor, he is expected to travel to India for medical checkups.
He however sought to tender the medical documents which according to him were obtained from a hospital where his client had obtained medical treatment.
After critical observation of the documents, the prosecutor kicked against its admissibility on the ground that it was not certified.
He said the information on how the accused came about the documents was missing and that they were addressed to nobody but ‘To Whom It May Concern’.
“It’s not emanating from a government recognised hospital. This document ought not to be tendered from the bar. If we have seen the documents before now, we would verify the authenticity.
In his ruling, the court refused the bail application of the accused. He said his counsel hammered on his health but fail to provide convincing facts that will warrant his bail. He stressed further that there must be evidence that will show that the health challenge cannot be properly managed in the prison.
He however remanded the accused in prison custody even as the matter is adjourned to 26th May, 2018.
