Man convicted for issuing dud cheque in Kaduna

Etim Ekpimah

The Kaduna Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on October 28, 2021 secured the conviction and sentencing of one Chidiebere Chiwetaoke Solomon before Justice M.T.M Aliyu of the Kaduna State High Court, Kaduna for issuance of dud cheque.

Chidiebere’s trouble started when a petitioner alleged that, sometime between the months of April and June 2019, he worked for the defendant as a movie director for which the defendant was to pay him the sum of Two Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N2, 300,000.00) in two instalments for services rendered.

But the defendant only paid One Million Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,250,000.00) and issued him a cheque for the balance of One Million and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,050,000.00) which was returned unpaid due to insufficient funds standing to his credit.

The amended count read: “That you Chidi Chiwetaoke Solomon and Soul Mate Productions Global Services Limited between the months of September to November 2019 at Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Kaduna State, did intentionally induced one Abraham Chimezie Okonkwo to do you a movie directing job worth the total sum of One Million, Fifty Thousand Naira which he would not have done if he were not so deceived by you, as a result, has caused harm to his reputation and you thereby committed the offence of cheating contrary to Section 306(b) and punishable under Section 307 of the Penal Code Law of Kaduna State 2017.”

Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

Upon his guilty plea, the prosecution counsel, Moses Arumemi asked the court to convict him accordingly.

Justice Aliyu, sentenced the defendant to Ten Years Imprisonment with an option of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200, 000.00) fine