An Abuja Magistrates’ Court yesterday sentenced a 34-year-old man, Ezekiel Amadi, of Karimo Village, Abuja, to 110 days imprisonment for cheating a woman of N80, 000.
The Magistrate, Mr AbdullahiIlelah, sentenced Amadi after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Ilelah, however, gave the convict an option of fine of N5, 000. He also ordered the convict to pay the sum of N80, 000 as compensation to the complainant, Victoria Chia.
The police prosecutor, Simon Emmanuel, had told the court that Victoria, of Apo Village, Abuja, lodged a report against the convict at the Apo police station on April 12.
According to Emmanuel, sometime in August the complainant boarded the convict’s taxi and in the process he deceived her and collected the sum of N80, 000 from her.
He said that the convict promised to use the money to buy materials which he will use to make a charm that would be used to make dollars for the complainant.
He told the court that Amadi disappeared to an unknown destination after collecting the money from the woman. Emmanuel said that efforts made by the complainant to trace him did not yield results until he was arrested by the police on April 12.
He said that the offence contravened section 322 of the Penal Code. Pleading guilty to the charge, the convict said “it was the devil that made me to do it; have mercy on me, I am a family man with children” (NAN)