Car dealer arraigned over alleged diversion of N2.9m

Juliana Francis

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt Zonal Office, have arraigned a car dealer, Emmanuel Adiele for allegedly diverting N2.9million meant for a Ford Edge Sports Utility Vehicle.

Adiele was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N2, 960,000.

Acting Head, Media & Publicity, Tony Orilade said: “Adiele got into trouble when he allegedly collected the sum of N2.9 million, in two instalments from one of his customers who offered to purchase a Ford Edge Sports Utility Vehicle from him. The petitioner alleged that he made full payments for the vehicle, but the defendant neither delivered it to him nor returned his money to him.”

Adiele pleaded "not guilty" to the charge when it was read to him.

The count reads: “That you, Emmanuel Adiele between 5th and 15th October, 2015 at Port Harcourt within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained by false pretence, the sum of N2,960,000 from Celine Nwokotubo as payment for a Ford Edge Jeep (Sport Utility Vehicle) 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 related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.

In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Soares Adebayo, applied for a date for commencement of trial and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.

But the defence counsel, P.I. Imabimo, told the court that he had applied for bail of the defendant, adding that, the offence of his client was bailable.

Justice Abubakar, thereafter, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N2 million and one surety in like sum, who must not be below grade level 10 in the civil service and which must be verified by the prosecution.

The trial judge adjourned the case to February 25, 2019 for trial, and remanded the defendant in prison custody.