A Kaduna State High
Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Aliyu, has refused bail of Chimela
Darlington, a suspected serial fraudster being prosecuted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who parades himself as one of the
contractors working on National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, in Taraba
State, and duping unsuspecting victims of several millions of naira.
Darlington, through his
counsel, Tony Mozie, had after his arraignment on December 4, 2014 filed an
application for bail pending the determination of the case as the offence was a
bailable one.
Mozie argued that the
accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty and urged the court to
exercise its discretion to his favour.
In response, counsel to
EFCC, Charlotte Dennis told the court that Darlington’s integrity is doubtful
as he had failed to honour the terms of administrative bail earlier granted him
by the Commission. “When he was granted administrative bail, he couldn't meet
up and the accused did not comply with section 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure
Code”, Dennis said.
The prosecuting counsel
further stated that the accused person might frustrate his trial if admitted to
bail and urged the court to refuse the application.
his ruling, Justice Aliu
held that for a crime exceeding three years, the accused must satisfy the
conditions brought by section 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. He added
that the accused must also assure the court that he will not commit another
crime.
According to Justice
Aliu, the applicant has not shown any cause to these conditions. He
consequently refused the application.The case has been fixed for February 12,
2015 for hearing.
Darlington, who goes by
various names, including Daniel Promise, Eze Ihemere Eze, Chimela Ihechemere
Eze, Michael Imodu, operates as syndicate with Daniel Akintunde, Comrade Obong
Goodluck, and some others still at large to obtain money from Jerome Aseiza
David, under false pretence, claiming to be contractors and electrical
engineers, who have been awarded a federal government contract to install
electrical equipment in Taraba State.The accused and his cronies succeeded in
duping David to the tune of N1.2million.
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