Man Jailed For Issuing dud Cheques

A 49-year-old man, Gabriel Akinsanmi has been sentenced to four years imprisonment for issuance of dud cheques, contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 1(1)(b)(i) of the same Act.

He was convicted on Friday by Justice O. A. Adegbehingbe of the Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure on two counts of a four-count charge of stealing and issuance of dud cheque brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan zonal office.

His journey to prison started when the Commission received a petition dated June 8, 2017, from one Adebayo Alabi alleging that he (the complainant) paid the sum of N105 million to Gabriel Akinsanmi for the supply of 6 trucks of cashew nuts.

After payment, he alleged that Gabriel only supplied four out of the six trucks and later issued him four cheques of N8, 452,387.00 each as a refund of the balance, totaling N33, 809, 548.

Upon presentation of the cheques, only one was cleared while the other three were returned unpaid.

Gabriel was arraigned on January 30, 2018, and pleaded ‘not guilty to the four-count charge preferred against him, setting the stage for trial.

During the trial, the prosecution called 15 witnesses and tendered documents which were admitted in evidence. The defendant also called six witnesses.

After reviewing the arguments of counsel, Justice Adegbehingbe found Gabriel guilty on counts two and three and sentenced him to two years in each count. The jail term is to run concurrently, from March 26, 2021.

-NATION