N130m Dud cheque: Court grant businessman bail
A Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos has granted bail to the Managing Director, Picket Suites and Services Limited, Mr Abiodun Adisa, for allegedly issuing a dud cheque to a firm, Friedliz Estate Limited owned by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah.
Justice Adizat Shagari who granted the bail application filed by the applicant’s counsel Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, said that bail is a constitutional rights of any citizens as enshrined in the constitution and more so the offence for which the defendant is charged is a bailable one.
She said: “In the light of the above reasoning couple with facts and circumstances of this case I hereby grant bail to the defendant in the sum of N5 million Naira and two sureties in like sum, one of the sureties must be grade level 15 in the Federal or state civil service and a landed property owner within the jurisdiction of this court.
The judge said that the defendant should deposit his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
Consequently justice Shagari adjourned the case till January 24, 2018 for trial.
Abiodun Adisa was charged to court in December 22, 2017 on a 15 count-charge bordering on the issuance of N130 million dud cheque complained by Okechukwu Enemalah and his company
The SFU, in the charge, alleged that the accused had, between August 22, 2016 and June 30, 2017, issued 15 Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) cheques to one Okechukwu Enelameh, of Fredliz Estates Limited.
The SFU, however, stated that upon presenting the cheques for payment, they were dishonoured for lack of funds in the accused person’s account.
The SFU, through its prosecutor, Mr. Slyvester Azubike, had listed in the charge the Guarantee Trust Bank cheque numbers issued by the accused person as follows: 53547337, 53547338, 53547339, 53547340, 53547341, 53547342, 53547349, 53547350, 53547343, 53547344, 53547345, 53547346, 53547347, 53547348 and 53547364.
S.F.U said the offence is contrary and punishable under section 1(a)(I) of the dishonoured cheques offences Act, Cap D11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Peter Fowoyo
