Justice U.N Agomoh of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Monday, December 7, 2015 granted bail to one Idowu Olanrewaju (a.k.a Henry Idobari, Eng. Henry, also trading under the name and style of Hillmat farms) and Joe Onwudimowei (a.k.a Capt. Anthony Saramoh) who are being prosecuted on a 22-count charge bordering on forgery, conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of four million dollars ($4,000,000.00) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
One of the counts reads:
“ That you, Emmanuel Idowu Olanrewaju (a.k.a Henry Idobari, Eng.
Henry, also trading under the name and style of Hillmat Farms), Joe
Onwudimowei, Prince Moses Ijieh (at large), Ogbonyomi Taiye B. (at large),
Aliyu Haladu Madaki (at large), Total Intership Services Lmited., Hillmat Hotel
Limited., Hillmat Intergrated Services Limited., Hillmat Motors Limited., and
Idobari Limited. on or about the 12th day of June, 2009, at Port
Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court with intent to defraud
obtained a sum of Two hundred and Fifty Thousand United States of America
Dollars ($250,000.00), from one Allen Bird-an American citizen, as part payment
for the sale of 2.9 Million Barrel of Bonny Light crude oil, which you all
claimed to have the capability to deliver to him, which pretext you knew to be
false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable
under section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
The accused persons had during their arraignment on November 30,
2015 pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
Following their “not guilty plea”, A. Adedipe representing the 1st,
3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th accused
persons and D.C Oyiboka standing for the 2nd accused person, in
separate applications prayed the court to admit the accused persons to bail.
However, counsel to EFCC, F.O Dibang countered with a 17-paragraph
affidavit wherein he urged the court to grant the accused persons bail on
strict terms considering the seriousness of the offence committed.
Justice Agomoh admitted the first accused and his companies to
bail in the sum of N5million and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be
civil servants not below salary grade level 14, and are to deposit two
passport photographs each with the court. Also, the first accused must deposit
two passport photographs, his international passport and undertake in writing
to be preesnt always during his trial.
In the same vein, Joe Onwudimowei, the second accused secured bail
with a surety who must be a blood relation resident within the jurisdiction of
the court. The accused and his surety must deposit two passport photographs
each. Also, the accused must undertake in writing to be present always during
trial.
The judge ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison
custody pending the perfection of their bail terms.
The matter has been adjourned to March 1, 2 and 3, 2016 for
hearing.
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