The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Thursday, March 30th 2017, arraigned a businessman, Jonah Chimaobi Friday on a one -count charge bothering on issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N4,452,300.00 (Four Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-two Thousand, Three Hundred Naira). He was arraigned before Justice K.K. Ojiako of the State High Court, Owerri, Imo State. 


It was alleged by a petitioner that sometimes in 2015, he supplied goods (wine and spirits) valued at N4, 452,300.00 (Four Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-two Thousand Three Hundred Naira) to the accused person on credit with a pledge by him to pay on a stipulated date. Subsequently, Friday failed to keep his promise to pay the debt but rather became evasive over time.

The Petitioner further stated that when he later tracked him down, the accused person issued him a Diamond bank Cheque dated 30th November 2016 for the said amount, which when presented at the bank was dishonored due to insufficient fund necessitating a petition to the Commission.

The Prosecution Counsel Barr Micheal Ani applied that charges be read to the Accused person in order to take his plea after which the accused pleaded "Not Guilty" to Count preferred against him.

The Defense Counsel on the other hand urged the honorable court to consider some facts that is before the Court in granting his client bail which includes the following: that his client has never had a criminal record; that he has always made himself available upon request by the EFCC and has never jumped administrative bail.

He pledged to see that his client is readily available during trial.

Justice Ojiako afterward granted the accused person bail in the sum of N4, 000,000.00 and one surety in like sum. He ordered that the surety must have a landed property in Owerri in addition to possessing six months tax clearance, two passport photographs and a sworn affidavit of means.
The surety the Honourable Judge further directed must be a resident within the Jurisdiction of the Court and will be verified by the Court. He thereafter ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody pending fulfillment of the bail conditions. 


The matter which is contrary to section 1 (1) (b) of the Dishonored Cheque (Offences), Act Cap D11 Laws of the Federation 2004 and Punishable under Section1 (1) (b) (i) of thee same Act has been adjourned to May 2017, for commencement of trial.