The couple was arraigned by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal office.
They arraigned alongside their companies, Global
Steno Nigeria Limited and Nestins Global Links Limited, before Justice O. A.
Taiwo.
Acting Head, Media & Publicity, Samin Amaddin,
said that the couple was arraigned on a 20-count charge bordering on
conspiracy, forgery and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N32,507,628.08.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Austin Mbonu,
Nnenna Mbonu (a.k.a. Chika Mbonu) and Nestins Global Links Limited, on or about
the 30th day of June, 2017 at Lagos within the Lagos Judicial Division, with
intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of N14, 145,686.95 from Fidelity
Bank Plc as the cost of facilitation of a Local Purchase Order, LPO, Contract
from Chivita Nigeria Limited.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge
preferred against them. In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, Nkeruwem
Anana, asked for a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in
prison custody. But, the defence counsel, Peter Ozodiale, moved an
application for bail on behalf of his clients.
His words: “My Lord, the defendants have been
in the EFCC custody for some days. The second defendant, Nnenna Mbonu, is
a nursing mother; she has a four-month-old baby.”
Justice Taiwo adjourned the case to February 2, 2018
for hearing of the bail application and ordered the defendants to be remanded
in the EFCC custody.
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