EFCC Arraigns Two for N2m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Wednesday 24, November, 2016 arraigned the duo of Chioma Okereh and Gideon Okere, before Justice   U.N Agomoh of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt on a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, uttering and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of Two Million Three Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira (N2, 390,000.00).

The accused persons were said to have conspired and fraudulently obtained the money from a complainant under the pretext of helping her secure a loan. The first accused person allegedly deceived the petitioner by claiming that she works at the Eleme Refinery, Port Harcourt and could help secure a loan from her cooperative society. She then asked the complainant to purchase form and pay commitment fee totaling Two Million Three Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira. All efforts by the complainant to secure the loan or get her money back proved abortive.

One of the counts read, “that you Chioma Okereh and Gideon Okere between 29^th December, 2015 and 30^th March, 2016 at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire with yourselves to commit an offence to wit: obtaining money by false pretences and thereby committed an offence 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”.

 

Another count reads, “that you Chioma Okereh and Gideon Okere on or about the 30^th December, 2015 at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud obtained N450,000.00 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) by false pretences from Mrs Chinwe I. Ojogbo and her company-Worth Nigeria Enterprise under the pretence that you will assist her secure a loan from Eleme Refinery Cooperative, the pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel, A. Olatunji asked the court to fix a date for trial and to remand the accused persons in prison custody. Attempt by the defense counsel, Chris Nwonu to make an oral application for bail was refused by the court.

Justice Agomoh ordered the defense counsel to file a formal application for bail and adjourned the matter to February 14^th and 15^th, 2017 for trial. She also ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head Media & Publicity

25^th November, 2016