A Sokoto Magistrates’ Court yesterday ordered the remand of a 48-year-old estate agent, Lawali Maigara, for alleged land fraud.
The defendant was accused of defrauding Mubarak Bello of Fakon Iddi, Sokoto, of N400,000 on land transaction.
He was arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, breach of trust and cheating.
The offences are contrary to sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.
The prosecutor, Abubakar Mohammed, had told the court that the defendant sold a plot of land to the victim at N380, 000 and collected N20, 000 agency fee.
He said when the victim started developing his land, the accused went and sold the same land to another person, leading to the destruction of the victim’s building.
The prosecutor said the incident occurred in 2014.
The accused denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
The Chief Magistrate, Abubakar Adamu, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody until police investigation is completed.
He adjourned the case till November 8 for further mention.