By PATIENCE YAKUBU

The police on Wednesday, dragged a 38-year-old man Aaron James, before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly defrauding his brother to the tune of N4.8 million.

James, a resident of Barnawa Kaduna, is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in December 2025, at Bayan Dutse in Kaduna.

He alleged t’at the defendant obtained the sum of N4.8 million from his older brother, one Mr Nathan, under the pretence of selling three plots of land to him.

According to the prosecutor, the defendant never sold the land to the complainant but converted the money to his personal use.

He added that all efforts by the complainant to get his money back proved abortive.

The offences contravene the provisions of sections 217 and 309 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 217 stipulates a penalty of five years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 309 provides for an imprisonment term of not less than four years.

The Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum.

Emmanuel said the sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court with evidence of tax payment to the Kaduna Government.

He adjourned the case until May 12, for hearing. (NAN)