A 32-year-old artisan, Ugoeze Charles on Tuesday appeared in a Grade I Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja, for allegedly escaping from police custody.
The prosecuting counsel, John Okpa told the court that the defendant was arrested in connection with a case of misappropriation and cheating a customer, Operum Dennis of N170, 000 on Jan. 19.
Okpa said that the defendant escaped from custody while being transported to the police station on Jaji Street, Kubwa.
He said the defendant intended to avert prosecution but was rearrested on March 1.
The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of Sections 173 of the Penal Code.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.
The defence counsel, Oyinye Onumajuru, prayed the court to grant her client bail in the most liberal terms, citing Section 162 and 158 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
The Judge, Muhammad Adamu, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with one reasonable surety in like sum.
Adamu ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and present means of identification.
He also ordered that the surety should write an undertaking that the defendant would not jump bail and adjourned the case until April 13 for hearing.