A Magistrate Court sitting in Pankshin, Plateau State, has sentenced a 34-year-old man, Daniel Anichukwu, to six months in a correctional centre for defrauding a Point of Sale (POS) operator of N90,000.
Chief Magistrate Yebo Dabup handed down the sentence on Friday after Anichukwu pleaded guilty to the charges. The court, however, gave him the option of paying a N200,000 fine instead of serving the jail term.
The magistrate also ordered the convict to refund the stolen N90,000 to the complainant, while striking out the charge of criminal breach of trust.
Earlier, prosecutor Success Daniel told the court that the offence was committed on April 7, while the matter was reported to the police on June 22 by the complainant, Uchenna Christian, a POS operator in Pankshin.
According to the prosecution, Anichukwu collected N90,000 from the complainant with the promise of transferring the money into his account. He allegedly excused himself under the pretext of easing himself but fled without completing the transaction.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 297 and 306 of the Plateau State Penal Code Law, 2017.
In his defence, Anichukwu admitted guilt but insisted the incident was not deliberate. He told the court that he initiated the transfer before leaving, believing the transaction had gone through.
He claimed he later discovered there was a problem with his bank account but failed to return to the complainant to explain the situation—an omission that ultimately led to his prosecution and conviction.
