Court remands man for allegedly issuing N100m dud cheques

Usman Gumi issued N10 million cheques on ten different occasions.

An Abuja High Court on Thursday remanded businessman, Usman Gumi in EFCC custody over alleged issuance of a dud cheques. Mr.Gumi will remain with the EFCC pending the court’s ruling on oral application for bail.

The presiding judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, reserved March 8 for ruling on the application for Gumi’s bail as submitted by his counsel, Adegoke Basi.

The businessman is standing trial on a 10-count charge for alleged issuance of cheques worth N100 million which were dishonoured.

Counsel to the EFCC, Salisu Majidadi, told the court that the offence was punishable under Section 1 sub 1b of the Dishonoured Cheques Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Mr. Majidadi said the accused who was the account signatory officer of Cell Wireless Ltd had, sometime in March 2011, allegedly issued a N10 million Guaranty Trust Bank cheque. The accused first issued the cheque with teller number 26476970 to Nebas Integrated Limited for the credit he obtained.

The counsel added that the accused later issued N10 million dishonoured cheques on nine other different occasions. The cheques were all dishonoured as a result of insufficient funds in the account of Cell Wireless Ltd.

Mr. Gumi, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution then asked the court to fix a date to enable it present its two witnesses to support its case in view of the accused’s plea.

The defence counsel moved an oral application for bail which was opposed by the prosecution.

Justice Bello fixed March 8 for ruling on the application and adjourned the case to April 24 for hearing.

(NAN)