EFCC arraigns professor over alleged N1.4b fraud

By Yetunde Ayobami Ojo

17 March 2023   |  
2:39 am

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Prof. Uche Chigozie Edwin before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, for alleged involvement in N1.4 billion fraud.

EFCC

•Re-arraigns businesswoman for alleged N110m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Prof. Uche Chigozie Edwin before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, for alleged involvement in N1.4 billion fraud. Prof. Edwin was arraigned along with his companies, Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited, NEMAD Associates Limited and Revamp Global Enterprise.

   

The defendants were arraigned on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention and conversion of sum N1, 473,367,046.04. Following his plea of not guilty to the counts charge, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. C.C.Okezie prayed the court for a trial date.He also asked that the defendant be remanded in Nigerian Correctional facility pending the determination of the suit.

 

Responding to his submission, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Mobolaji Akintunde, urged the court to allow him move the defendant’s bail application.

 

Moving the bail application, the counsel prayed the court to grant his client bail and remand him in EFCC’s custody pending the perfection of his bail if granted by the court.

 

In his ruling, Justice Oweibo granted him bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

 

The judge ordered that the sureties must possess landed property within the jurisdiction of the court, show tax clearance certificates of three months as well as their passport photographs.

   

The court further ordered the defendant to deposit his international passport with the court and subsequently adjourned trial to June 27, 2023.

ALSO, the anti-graft agency, yesterday, re-arraigned a businesswoman, Portia Emilia before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, for alleged N110 million fraud.

   

Emilia was re-arraigned alongside her company, Savanah Crest Investment Limited, on an amended five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal, obtaining by false pretence and retaining stolen property.   Her offence is contrary to Section 411 and punishable under section  287 (5), 328 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

 

The offence is also contrary to Section 1(1)(2) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Fraud Offences Act 2006 and Section 280(1) (12)8(7), 285(1) and 278(1)b) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

   

The anti-graft agency alleged that Emilia and Savanah Crest Investment Limited, sometime in 2018 in Lagos, with intent to defraud, stole and dishonestly converted to her own the sum of N40,000,000.00. The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

 

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. F. Ofoma, told the court that the prosecution will close its case, having called two witnesses and tendered several documentary evidence as exhibits.

 

The prosecution therefore prayed the court to close its case. Responding, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. J. Amodu prayed the court to grant him an adjournment to enable him prepare for his case as well as allow the defendant to continue to enjoy the bail earlier granted by the court.  After listening to their submission, Justice Abike-Fadipe, adjourned to June 22, 2023, for defence.

12 mins ago

Pay TV provider, Multichoice Nigeria, has unveiled fresh local and foreign channels across DStv and GOtv platforms for the new calendar year. The catalogue includes news, music, sports, reality shows, documentaries, drama series, movies and children programmes.

18 mins ago

Armed bandits have killed four military officers, including a major, during an attack on four communities in Paikoro and Munya Local Councils of Niger State.

18 mins ago

President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, has promised competence in appointments and engagements. In a message titled, “Nigeria: At the Cusp of Renewed Hope,” he promised to reposition the country.

21 mins ago

People Democratic Party (PDP), in Imo State, has criticised the state Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Barde, over the invitation extended to the former Governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha.

27 mins ago

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Kaduna State Peace and Mediation Working Committee (KSPMWC) have called on voters to avoid voter-apathy and come

Source: Guardian Nigeria | Read More