A 26-year-old Moniepoint operator, Yusuf Umar, was arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Gwagwalada on Thursday for allegedly stealing 580 Pi coins.
Umar faced a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and theft.
The prosecuting counsel, Abdullahi Tanko, told the court that the complainant, David Adieza from Passo village in Gwagwalada, Abuja, reported the incident to the police on April 7.
Tanko explained that Adieza had handed his cellphone to the defendant on April 6, asking him to open a Moniepoint account. Instead, Umar allegedly accessed the complainant’s Pi wallet and transferred 580 Pi coins.
He said the offences violated Sections 312 and 289 of the Penal Code.
Umar pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In an oral bail application, defence counsel Hussein Isah urged the court to grant bail, assuring that his client would not flee.
He cited Section 36(5) of the Constitution and Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) in support of the request.
Magistrate Olatunji Oladunmoye granted Umar bail in the sum of N500,000, with one surety in like sum. The surety must reside within a verifiable address under the court’s jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned until May 7 for hearing.
(NAN)