The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, May 3, 2017, arraigned one Eucharia Ekezie before Justice Olasumbo Olajumoke
Goodluck of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja,
on a ten-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.
Ekezie, in
connivance with one Hamid Bakoji (now at large), allegedly defrauded over
seventy job applicants to the tune of N3.920million under the pretext that the
money would be used to facilitate employments for them in various federal government
establishments including Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Communication
Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service and National Assembly.
The offence
contravenes Section 8 (a) and 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other
Related Offences Act, 2006.
One of the counts reads:
“That
you, Mrs.
Eucharia Ekezie and Hamid Bakoji (now at large), sometime between 15
October, 2012 and 6 December, 2012 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of
the High Court of
the Federal Capital Territory, with the intent to defraud, did obtain an
aggregate sum of N1, 120, 000.00 (One Million, One Hundred and Twenty
Thousand Naira)
via your Skye Bank account No. 1018539796 from one Eze Gereldine
Uzoamaka under
the false pretence that the said sum will be used to secure employment
for
some job applicants in Federal Government establishments, which you knew
was
false and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of
the
Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable
under
Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
The defendant
pleaded not guilty the charge.
In view of her plea, counsel to EFCC, Chris
Omisaga urged the court to fix a date for trial .
However, Ekezie’s counsel, C. S. Nwaogu told
the court that he had a pending application for bail of his client and prayed
the court to admit the defendant to bail.
Justice Goodluck granted the accused bail in the sum of N2million with two sureties in
like sum. The sureties must be civil servants not below Grade Level 14. The
defendant must also submit her international passport to the court registrar.
The Judge,
thereafter, adjourned to June 13-14, 2017 for hearing.
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