Kaduna: The police on Wednesday, dragged a 38-year-old man Aaron James, before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court, for allegedly defrauding his brother to the tune of N4.8 million. James, a resident of Barnawa Kaduna, is standing trial on a two-count charge of fraud and stealing. He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences sometime in December 2025, at Bayan Dutse in Kaduna. He alleged that the defendant obtained the sum of N4.8 million from his older brother, one Mr Nathan, under the pretence of selling three plots of land to him. The defendant never sold the land to the complainant but converted the money to his personal use. Efforts by the complainant to retrieve his money were unsuccessful.
The offences contravene the provisions of sections 217 and 309 of the Kaduna State Penal Code, 2017. Section 217 stipulates a penalty of five years imprisonment for stealing, while Section 309 provides for an imprisonment term of not less than four years.
The Magistrate, Mr Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must reside within the jurisdiction of the court with evidence of tax payment to the Kaduna Government. The case is adjourned until May 12, for hearing.