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| Amaka |
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| Paul |
The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, February 4, 2016
arraigned three top officers of Ishielu West Development Centre, Ebonyi
State-Amaka Emeh (Coordinator), Oko Emmanuel (Finance Officer) and Ugwuoke Paul
(Administrative Officer)-before Justice A.N. Nwankwo of the State High Court
sitting in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State on a two-count charge bordering on issuance
of dud cheque to the tune of N5.5million (Five Million Five Hundred Thousand
Naira).
Emeh is alleged to have defrauded
Munak Microfinance Bank, after obtaining a loan facility of N5.5million to pay
her staff salaries, while awaiting the monthly allocation from the state
government.
Also, Emeh allegedly conspired with
the two other accused persons to open an account for the Centre with another
bank.
When the management of Munak
requested her to pay back the loan obtained from the bank, she issued a cheque
for N5.5m, which was not honoured upon presentation, owing to insufficient fund
in her account.
One of the counts reads: ‘‘That you,
Ishielu West Development Centre, Amaka Emeh (being coordinator Ishielu West
Development Centre), Oko Emannuel (being Finance Officer, Ishielu West
Development Centre) and Ugwuoke Paul (being Admin Officer, Ishielu West
Development Centre) on or about the 30th June, 2012 at Abakiliki
within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Ebonyi State, issued a United Bank
for Africa (U B A) cheque No. 37407401 dated the 30th /6/2012 with
the face value of (N5,500,000.00) Five Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira
only) to Mornarch Microfinance Bank, the said cheque when presented for payment
within three months was dishonoured on the groundS of insufficient fund
standing to the credit of Account upon which it was drawn and you thereby
committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheque
(Offences)Act Cap D11 Laws of the Federation 2004 and Punishable under section
1(1)(b)(i)(ii) of the same Act.’’
The accused persons, however,
pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
In view of their pleas, the
prosecution counsel, Ajobiewe E. Rotimi, applied for the prosecution to open
his case.
Counsel for the 3rd and 4th accused persons, Fryde Edore Akpor and O. Okorie, urged the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms.
Counsel for the 3rd and 4th accused persons, Fryde Edore Akpor and O. Okorie, urged the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms.
Consequently, Justice Nwankwo
granted bail to the third and forth accused persons in the sum N5million each
and one surety each in like sum. Each surety must own a landed property within
Abakiliki, with evidence of Certificate of Occupancy, which must be submitted
to the court registrar and must also submit a recent passport photograph.
The second accused person,
Emeh, was ordered to be remanded in prison custody.
The matter was adjourned to March
14, 15 and 16, 2016 for trial.
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