A Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, on Friday remanded a businessman, Abba Abubakar, in prison custody for alleged N3.8 million fraud. Abubakar of Cioto Str., Maitama, Abuja, was arraigned on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The Chief Magistrate, Usman Shuaibu, ordered that the defendant be remanded tillAug. 24.Prosecutor Gabriel Peter had told the court that Eneh Ujah of Loach Farms Limited reported the matter to the Inspector General of Police through a written petition onJuly 1.

He said that onJune 14, Abubakar demanded two trucks of fertiliser from Loach Farms Limited, with a local purchase order. The prosecutor said that based on personal recognition as a good customer, the said fertiliser worth six million naira, was supplied to the defendant.

Peter said the defendant deposited N2.2 million to the complainant with an outstanding balance of N3.8 million. He said that the defendant issued a Diamond Bank cheque, which he knew was dormant to the company.

Peter also said during investigations it was discovered that the various addresses the defendant gave in the course of the transactions were all false. The prosecutor said that the defendant had the intention to defraud company, adding that that was why he disappeared after the transactions.

He said that it took the efforts of the police to be able to trace the defendant’s whereabouts and arrest him. Abubakar, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. (NAN)