The Kaduna Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 arraigned Theophilus Madami before Justice Darius Khobo of the State High Court, Kaduna, on a two-count, involving issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N2,310,000 (Two Million, Three Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira).
Madami, who is a serving councillor in the state has been in prison custody following his earlier arraignment on November 14, 2019 on criminal breach of trust and obtaining by trick.
His arraignment today followed a petition, dated June 6, 2019 by the managing director of Extra Events Centre, who alleged that between January 23-24 and on April 17, 2018, the defendant requested for the supply of electronic musical equipment worth N2, 310,000 (Two Million, Three Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira), which was delivered to him on payment of N200,000 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) deposit.
Following several demands for the payment of the balance, Madami, the petitioner said, issued him two post-dated cheques, which were all dishonoured by the bank due insufficient funds in the defendant’s account. All efforts to resolve the matter, the petitioner said, proved abortive.
Count one of the charges reads: “That you, Theophilus Madami (“m”), sometime in December, 2018 in Kaduna within the judicial division of this honourable court, did obtain credit for yourself to the tune of N2,110,000 (Two Million, One Hundred and Ten Thousand Naira) from Bright Onyebuchi Nnadi, by means of Sterling Bank PLC cheque, dated 20/12/2018 in the sum of N1,000,000 (One Million), which when presented within three months was dishonoured on the ground that there was no sufficient funds standing in the account for which the cheque was drawn and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) (b) and punishable under Section 1 (1) (b) (1) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, CAP D11 Laws of the Federation 2004.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting prosecuting counsel, P.C Onyeneho to ask the court for a trial date and for defendant to be remanded in a Correctional Centre. Defence counsel, R.J Dakun, however, prayed the court to grant bail to the defendant.
Justice Khobo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) adding that he must present a reliable surety who is a property owner within the jurisdiction of the court. He was returned to prison from where he was arraigned.