The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday arraigned the General Manager, Gombe State Cooperative Savings and Loan Limited, Sani Musa, before Justice M. G. Umar of the Federal High Court Gombe, Gombe State, on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence and issuance of dud cheque.
Musa was alleged to have in May 2009 obtained a loan of N75, 000,000 from Guaranty Trust Bank under the false pretence that it was to be used by members of the cooperative for acquisition of household items.
On receipt of the said loan, however, he disbursed only N9, 000,000 and diverted N66, 000,000 for personal use – an offence punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and OtherRelated Offences Act 2006.
On August 12, 2009, he allegedly drew on the account name of Gombe State Cooperative Savings and Loans Limited the sum of N4,800,000 in favor of GTB.
The following day, he issued a cheque of N30, 000,000 to GTB drawn on Asnib International Resources Limited account with Intercontinental Bank Plc.
All the cheques upon presentation for payment were dishonored for insufficient fund and subsequently marked dud – an offence punishable under Section 1 (1) of the Dishonored Cheques Offences Act Cap D11 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him.
Prosecuting counsel, Nnaemaka Omewa, thereafter, asked for a date for trial to commence.
Counsel to the defence, M. M. Mailomo, told the court he had filed an application for bail.
Justice Umar adjourned the case to February 10, 2016 for ruling on the bail application and ordered the accused be remanded in prison custody.
Similarly, EFCC also arraigned the trio of Joseph Lah Leh, Nwinunu Sorbari and Emenike Henry before Justice U.N Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a five- count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N4, 500,000.00(Four Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira).
The petitioner, Uzoma Obilor, Managing Director/CEO, Bikpak Limited, alleged that one of his business associates, Kenule Kukang, sometime in May, 2012, brought a proposal for getting contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and then introduced him to Lah Leh (the first accused person) who claimed that he could help him( Obilor) secure the contract.
Obilor further alleged that he was shown a tender, which Kukang, who also claimed to be a special assistant to one L.F. Ntoue, his in-law and Board member representing Federal Ministry of Finance in the NDDC, confirmed to be genuine.
Thereafter, Lah Leh allegedly demanded for N5million from Obilor to start the processing of the contract, which was paid in three installments of N2.5m, N2m and N500, 000 with a Standard Chartered Bank cheque No.00000151.
The petitioner further alleged that, after he had made the full payment, the first accused person, who was accompanied by Sorbari, the second accused person, gave him a contract award letter.
Worried by the incessant threats and harassment for more money by the accused persons, the petitioner then visited the NDDC to verify the award letter, which was found to be fake.
However, all efforts by the petitioner to get back his money were unsuccessful.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
Justice Agomoh granted the accused bail in the sum of N1, 000,000.00 (One Million Naira) each, with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a civil servant not below Grade Level 12, while the other must be a blood relation who must be verified by the prosecution and court bailiff.
Justice Agomo adjourned to March 15, 2016 for trial and ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody pending the fulfillment of their bail conditions.
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