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A former banker, Ugwumba Evangeline and
two other suspected fraudsters, were on Monday, February
24, 2021 arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice E. N. Anyadike of
the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State on four-count
charges bordering on conspiracy, and obtaining money by false pretence to
the tune of N14,100,000 (Fourteen Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira
only).
The other two defendants are: Onyekachi
Christian Nwagbo and Chiwendu Okeke.
They pleaded "not guilty" to the
charges when they were read to them.
Count One of the charges read:
"That you Ugwumba Evangeline,
Onyekachi Christian Nwagbo, Chiwendu Okeke and Okparauwakwe Emmanuel
Chigozie (now at large) on or about 8th November, 2016 at Umuahia, Abia State
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst
yourselves to commit felony to wit; obtaining money by false pretence contrary
to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related
Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same
Act.
In view of their pleas, prosecuting
counsel, E. K. Ebipade prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of
trial.
However, counsel to 1st defendant, M. O.
Eze, and counsel to 2nd and 3rd defendants, B. C. Ogu, both made oral
applications for the bail of their clients.
Justice Anyadike granted the defendants bail in
the sum of N2,000,000.00 (Two Million Naira only) each and two sureties in
like sum. Sureties must be resident in Umuahia and Aba metropolis
respectively.
Also, sureties and defendants are to
deposit two recent passport photographs with the court.
Sureties must show evidence of tax payment and
must swear to an affidavit of means.
The judge adjourned the matter till April
5, 2021 and ordered the defendants to be remanded in Umuahia Custodial
Centre, pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
Trouble started for the three
defendants when a petitioner, Daniel Igwe Onumah alleged
that he deposited a total sum of N14,100,000 into a trading account: Yo-yo Oku
Trading Ventures, operated by the defendants for foreign exchange
transactions.
Specifically, the petitioner sought the
dollar equivalent of the money paid into Yo-yo Oku Trading
Ventures transferred to his foreign partners and the defendants allegedly
assured him that the money would be transferred as arranged.
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