The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, on Thursday March 7, 2013 arraigned one Patrick Fernandez, 50, before Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a five count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and issuance of dud cheques worth N44,950, 000 ( Forty- Four Million, Nine Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) contrary to section 1(1) of the Dishonoured Cheques Act Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004.
One of the charges read, “Patrick Fernandez between 29th March and 1st April, 2012 at Ikeja within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud did obtain different types of Nokia phone sets worth N13, 800,000 (Thirteen Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) only from Okay Computers when you falsely represented to her that the money was to be paid within one week after delivery/collection of goods and which promise you failed to abide with.”
Another count reads, “Patrick Fernandez on or about 7th April, 2012 at Ikeja within the Ikeja Judicial Division with intent to defraud issued a FCMB Cheque No. 10564279 in the sum of N8, 150,000.00 (Eight Million, One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) to Okay Computers which when presented for payment was returned unpaid on ground of insufficient funds in the account.”
When the charge was read to him, he pleaded not guilty.
EFCC counsel, Kayode Oni prayed the court for a trail date and that the suspect be remanded in prison custody, stressing that the EFCC’s facilities for remanding suspects are over-stretched. He opposed an oral application for bail made by the defence counsel, reminding the court that applications for bail ought to be presented in writing.
Counsel to the defendant, Olajide Kazeem prayed the court to honour his oral application for bail for his client. He argued that since the defendant did not jump the administrative bail offered him by the EFCC, he would not behave otherwise if admitted to bail by the court. He also prayed the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.
In his ruling, Justice Onigbanjo granted the defendant bail in the sum of N2million and two sureties in like sum
He adjourned the matter till April 17 and 19 September, 2013 for commencement of trial.
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