A 38-year-old technician, Wisdom Lawrence, who was accused of hypnotising his passenger and stealing N500,000, on Friday, appeared in a Karmo Grade I Area Court, Abuja.
The police charged Lawrence, who lives in Gwagwa Karmo with joint act and cheating.
The prosecutor, Mrs Ijeoma Ukagha, told the court that Nkechi Eze of Karmo village, Abuja, reported the matter at the Life Camp Police Station, on Dec. 12.
Ijeoma said that the defendant and four others at large, pretended to be passengers in the same cab with the complainant at the Life Camp by Airport Junction.
She said on getting to Jabi Park, where she wanted to alight, the defendant engaged her in a discussion and hypnotised her into forgetting where she wanted to alight and he stole N550, 000 from her.
According to her, the offence contravenes the provisions of Sections 79 and 322 of the Penal Code.
However, after the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty.
The judge, Alhaji Inuwa Maiwada, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with one surety in like sum.
Maiwada ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and adjourned the case until Jan. 25 for hearing. (NAN)
