4th August, 2015
A 48-year-old teacher, Ismaila Mohammad, was on Tuesday sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by a Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for allegedly defrauding his neighbour of N224,500.
The Senior Judge, Mr Gambo Garba convicted Mohammad after he pleaded guilty to charges of criminal breach of trust and cheating.
Garba, however, gave him N20,000 option of fine for the two-count charge and also ordered him to refund the sum of N224,500 to the complainant.
He warned the convict to be of good behaviour and to desist from crimes after serving out his punishment.
The convict was docked on a three-count charge of joint act, breach of trust and cheating.
Earlier, the Prosecutor Cpl. Lliya Maji, told the court that one Mohammed Nasir of Iddo Village, Abuja, lodged the complaint at the Iddo Police Station on July 27.
Maji said that the convict collected the sum of N100,000 from the complainant to process immigration recruitment for his son, N90,000 to buy vehicle and N34,500 to buy some chairs for him.
He said that the convict converted all the money to his own use, adding that the total money he collected was N224,500.
He also prayed the court to try the accused person summarily under Section 157(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code since he admitted committing the crime.
Maji said that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 79(311) and 320 of the Penal Code.