I cheated because she's my friend, suspect tells court

A 29-year-old woman, Chisom Nkuku, on Thursday begged a Dutse Grade 1 Area Court for mercy after admitting she cheated one of her friends of N103,000.

Nkuku pleaded with the court, shortly before her conviction, that she used the said sum because she assumed her friend would not mind her doing so.

"I know that I was wrong for using her money for my own personal use. But that is because we are friends and only a friend will give you time to pay back.

"I was actually saving it so that I can buy the saloon later from her.

"My lord, please tamper justice with mercy and help me beg her to forgive me, I promise to pay her soon,” she said.

The presiding officer, Mr Ado Ahmed, however, sentenced Nkuku to 10 months imprisonment but with an option to pay N10,000 as fine.

The convict, a resident of Sabongari in Bwari, Abuja, was sentenced after she pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of criminal breach of trust, criminal misappropriation and cheating.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mrs Agnes Aluko-Adewumi, had told the court that Joy Orira of same address reported the matter at the Bwari Police Station on Feb.15.

Aluko-Adewumi said that the complainant's friend, Josephine Onoura, had earlier in 2015 entrusted the convict with her hair dressing saloon to manage.

The prosecutor said the convict was to pay N5,000 into Onoura’s bank account as the agreed weekly remittance between July and November 2015.

She said that the defendant breached the contractual agreement and instead paid the accumulated N103, 000 into her personal bank account which she converted to her personal use. Aluko-Akinwumi said the offences contravened Sections 312, 309 and 320 of the Penal Code.