Ikechukwu Asomugha, popularly known as Jim Iyke, recently claimed that he was left off the hook in the N15million fraud saga between him and Hajiya Habiba. O’town Gist Entertainment however, gathered that the actor was only discharged but not acquitted by the Abuja chief magistrate court as was reported in the some social media. Jim Iyke was said to have used the social media to lay his claim of being discharged by the court for lack of evidence by the prosecuting team.
Investigations proved that the actor was only discharged after an out of court agreement was reached. According to court records made available to newsmen by Solomon Abgo, who is the special assistant to Hajia Abubakar, Jim Iyke, was arraigned before the court on November 10, 2011 for allegedly defrauding an Abuja-based society Lady, Hajia Habiba Abubakar of the sum of N15 million. Though this report has been making the rounds, the police said Jim had admitted that the money was truly paid in his Oceanic Bank Account 00500173691. The actor pleaded not guilty to the charges initially but Habiba, who was preparing to mount the witness box said Solo, Jim, his family and friends went on their knees begging her to withdraw the case and forgive Jim. However the record shows that on 8th May this year, Jim Iyke signed a debt repayment agreement, with the said Hajia Habiba and promised to re-pay the #16,500,000 in monthly installments within four years. According to the agreement, Jim is to make equal monthly installment which shall not be less than #200,000 into two Fin bank plc accounts of her children and he has started paying into that account on the 28th May, 2012. Nkechi Valeria Okelue of Sunny vale Estate was Jim’s witness while Hajia Habiba’s husband was her witness. In addition, Jim also published public apologies in two national newspapers, national life, Vanguard and Daily Trust of the 16/4/2012.
The apology reads, “I Jim Iyke hereby sincerely apologise (SIC) to Mrs Habiba Abubakar, her family as well as members of my family for my conduct of the 10/09/2011 which has caused severe embarrassment to Mrs Habiba Abubakar personally and lead (sic) to the case she instituted against me in an Abuja magistrate court Wuse zone 6. After the involvement of my family, we have decided to settle the matter out of court. Yours sincerely, Jim Iyke.” Solomon Agbo informed O’town Gist that few days after the matter was withdrawn from court and the accused discharged, Jim has allegedly gone on the social network media announcing that the case was thrown out because of lack of evidence against him, which is not a welcome development to the family.
When she was contacted, Jim Iyke’s lawyer, Barrister Esther Uzoma, she said in a statement that her client didn’t author the social media information.
