By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone, Valentine Azubike Nwankwo a Forty-Nine years old Nigerian businessman on Friday, 25 October, 2024, made his first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No1 on three count charges of obtaining money by false pretence: Contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, that you on Wednesday 10 of January 2024 at Kingharman Road Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Ten Thousand United States Dollars ($10,000) from Sallieu Dumbuya by falsely pretending that you have five town plots of land, situated at Baw-Baw off Peninsula Road Freetown for sale, knowing same to be false.
Count two revealed that on Monday 22th January 2024 at Kingharman Road Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, with intent to defraud obtained the sum of one thousand United State Dollars ($1,000) from Sallieu Dumbuya by falsely pretending that you have five town plots of land at Baw-Baw off Peninsula Road Freetown for sale, knowing same to be false.
Count three further mentioned that on Friday 16 February 2024 at Kingharman Road Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, with intend to defraud obtained the sum of Eleven Thousand United State Dollars ($11,000) and a fiscal cash of Twenty Thousand Leone (Le 20,000) from Sallieu Dumbuya by false pretending that you have five town plots of land at Baw-Baw off Peninsula Road Freetown for sale, knowing same to be false.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused person no plea was given.
The Prosecuting Council Assistant Superintendent of police Ibrahim S. Mansaray sought for a short adjournment date for him to get proper conference with his witness.
The defence Counsel A. Sesay pleaded with the magistrate that they have approach the complainant and wished to continue with that as their engagement is on progress. He noted that he has reliable sureties who are ready to be arraigned whenever the court needs them. Sesay added the accused is a Sierra Leoneans with wife and children and will not interfare with the prosecution witness nor will he jump bail. He made his bail application pursuant to section 79 (3) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965.
Meanwhile, magistrate Kekura refused bail based on the seriousness of the accusations and sent the accused to remain in custody in the male correctional centre in Freetown.
However, the case has been adjourned to 30th of October, 2024, for further hearings.
