EFCC Arraigns Company Executive for Issuance of Dud Cheque

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday April 6, 2016 arraigned one Bill Pollyn alongside his company, Chief W.F. Pollyn & Sons Nigeria before Justice S. C Amadi of the State High Court  Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on a 2-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N11million.

The petitioner, First Bank Plc, alleged that Pollyn applied for a contract facility of N21million (twenty one million naira) for reconstruction of Cawthorne Channel 1 Bund Wall in Bonny, Rivers State and presented a Homecare Limited receipt of N11million (eleven million naira) for purchase of cement, chippings and sand.

In response to his request, the said sum of N11million was credited into his First Bank account.

According to the complainant, the accused at the expiration of the contract, failed to deliver on the terms upon which the loan was granted him. He later issued postdated cheques that were returned unpaid due to lack of funds in his account.

One of the counts reads:

“That you, Bill Pollyn and Chief W.F. Pollyn & Sons Nigeria on or about the month of November, 2014 at Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the High Court of Rivers State fraudulently issued a First Bank Plc Cheque dated 28^th of November 2014 in the sum of Six Million Naira in favour of First Bank Nigeria Plc which was to settle your financial obligation with the said First Bank Nigeria Plc and when the said cheque was presented for payment within three months of its issue it was dishonoured due to insufficient fund standing to your credit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and (b) (i) & (ii) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act. Cap D11 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act, 2007.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to him.

In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, I. Agwu, urged the court to fix a date to commence trial. But, the defence counsel, A. Amuda-kannike, SAN, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail pending trial.

Justice Amadi granted the defendant bail in the sum of N20million (twenty million naira) or a landed property in the like sum within the jurisdiction of the court. The surety must depose to affidavit of means which would be verified by the prosecution and deposit one recent passport photograph.

The accused is to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail terms.

The case has been adjourned to May 12, 2016 for trial.