Kaduna Dry Cleaner Arraigned for Allegedly Selling Customer’s Clothes Worth N560,000

A 26-year-old dry cleaner, Richard Akanbi, was on Wednesday arraigned before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court for allegedly selling his customer’s clothes valued at N560,000.

Akanbi is facing a charge of criminal breach of trust, to which he pleaded not guilty.

According to the prosecutor, Insp. Chidi Leo, the incident took place on July 14 in the Maraba Rido area of Kaduna. He said the complainant, Linda Gabriel, had entrusted 18 clothing items to the defendant for dry cleaning. However, Akanbi allegedly sold the clothes and used the proceeds for personal expenses.

“When the complainant came to collect her clothes, the defendant lied that his shop had been burgled,” Leo told the court. “He later confessed to selling the clothes to meet personal needs after his arrest.”

The offence, Leo noted, is contrary to the Kaduna State Penal Code of 2017.

Magistrate Ibrahim Emmanuel granted the defendant bail in the sum of N200,000, with two sureties who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction. The sureties must also be gainfully employed and present evidence of three years of tax payments to the Kaduna State Government.

The case was adjourned until August 21 for hearing.