By Patrick Idowu
A 29-year-old woman, Stella David, was on Wednesday arraigned before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court for allegedly stealing her boyfriend’s ATM cards and withdrawing N1.2 million from his accounts.
The accused, who resides in Kamazou, Kaduna, is standing trial on one count of theft. She pleaded not guilty.
Police prosecutor, Inspector Chidi Leo, told the court that the incident occurred on April 12 at Federal Housing, Gonigora.
He alleged that David took the ATM cards belonging to her boyfriend, George Martins, and disappeared.
According to Leo, Martins noticed a N600,000 debit alert, and while trying to block the card, observed another transaction involving the purchase of two mobile phones from a second card.
Following a police report, David was arrested. She allegedly confessed to the crime.
One ATM card was recovered from her, while she claimed to have lost the second.
The offence, Leo noted, violates Section 217 of the Kaduna Penal Code Law, which prescribes a five-year jail term for stealing.
Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel granted her bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties.
He ruled that one surety must be a blood relative and both must show proof of employment and two years’ tax payments.
The case was adjourned to May 26 for further hearing.
