By Onozure Dania

Lagos—A 53-year-old bureau de change  operator, Shukurat Abebei, was yesterday remanded in Kirikiri Prison custody for allegedly stealing $20,000.

The defendant,  who was docked before Magistrate H. O. A. Amos, is facing a three-count charge bordering on obtaining, fraud and stealing preferred against her by the police.

The prosecutor, Corporal Cyriacus Osuji, told the court that the defendant  committed the alleged offences  in 2013.

He said the defendant obtained the said sum under false pretence of giving the Naira equivalent to the complainant, Austine Daniels, which she failed to do.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

In view of her plea, the magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of N 500,000, with two responsible sureties in like sum.

He said one of the sureties must be a blood relation, show evidence of employment and that both sureties must pay tax and have verifiable addresses; he adjourned the case to December 16 for mention.