John Ekom, a motorcyclist, was charged on Wednesday in a Karu Grade I Area Court in Abuja for defrauding a businesswoman of N750,000.
Ekom, 29, of Calvary Road, Mararaba, Nasarawa State, was accused by the police of criminal misappropriation, cheating, and criminal breach of trust.
Nonetheless, the defendant entered a not guilty plea to the allegations.
The complainant, Mary Godwin of Area F, Nyanya, Abuja, gave the defendant a TVS motorbike valued at N515, 000 on hire purchase at a rate of N720, 000 with an agreement to pay N15, 000 each week, the prosecution, Mr. Ade Adeyanju, informed the court.
However, he said that the defendant returned after four days, telling the complainant that the motorcycle had been stolen, having gone to hide it with the intention of deceiving.
The defendant admitted to the crime during the course of the police inquiry.
Sections 312, 322 and 309 of the Penal Code were violated, according to the prosecutor.
The defendant was granted bail in the amount of N500,000 by Judge Umar Mayana, who also directed the payment of N500,000 as his bail bond.
He explained that the sureties had to be residents of the court’s service area, and court staff would confirm their addresses.
For a second hearing, the judge postponed the case until October 18.