Four in EFCC net over N2.9m scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on yesterday (October 8, 2012) arraigned the duo of Uzoma Loius Jerry Okonkwo and Okonkwo Ugochukwu alongside their companies Mayor Global Resources Investment Limited and Okonkwo Energy Solution Limited before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on a five count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence.

Count one of the charge read : “That you, Uzoma Louis Jerry Okonkwo, Okonkwo Ugockukwu, Mayor Global Resources Investment Limited and Okonkwo Energy Solutions Limited on or about September 8, 2009 at Lagos within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, conspired to commit a felony to wit: obtaining the sum of N2,991,500.00 from Dezern Nigeria Limited under the false pretence that the money was the cost of 33,000 litres of DPK which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap 77, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1990 read in conjunction with section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”

When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.

 EFCC counsel, Anselem Ozioko prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody pending the hearing of the case.

Defence counsel, Frank Ndigwe, however informed the court that he had filed an application for bail for the accused persons and asked the court to consider the application.

 In his ruling, Justice Okechuku Okeke adjourned the case to October 29th, 2012 and November 1, 9, and 19, 2012 and ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.