Man docked over alleged N250,000 rent scam

May 2, 2017 10:43 PM

The complainant confronted the suspect over the issue, but he initially denied, only to admit later that he actually rented the shops to new tenants.

Court gavel

A 55-year-old man,

Salami of Kobi-Kuruduma village, Asokoro, is facing trial on two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N300, 000 with a reliable surety in like amount.

He adjourned hearing in the case till June 14.

The prosecutor, Mr Donatus Abah, told the court that one Mrs Latifat Asemola of Wuse Zone 4, reported the matter at Garki Police Station on April 24.

Abah said the complainant alleged that she entrusted her shops, located at Garki Market to the defendant sometime in 2009, when she was travelling out of the country.

“Based on her agreement with the defendant, the tenants were to make payments directly to her account, and hand over the payment slips to the defendant for safe keeping.

“Based on the agreement they had, she was to pay him five per cent of the said rent.

“But sometime in 2016, when the old tenants vacated, he rented the shops without her permission to new tenants, and collected N900, 000 as rent,’’ Abah said.

According to the prosecutor, when the complainant confronted him over the issue, he initially denied, only to admit later that he actually rented the shops to new tenants.

“But instead of remitting the said N900, 000, he only paid back N650, 000 to her, leaving a balance of N250, 000,’’ Abah said.

He also disclosed that in the course of police investigations, it was discovered that the defendant had converted the N250, 000 to his own use.

The offence contravened Sections 312 and 309 of the Penal Code.