Sunday, March 15, 2020

N37m fraud: Court remands fake NNPC official

Emmanuel Masha, Port Harcourt


A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, has remanded Ebioenang Monday George, in prison custody for posing as an official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, (NNPC).


George was remanded in prison custody for allegedly defrauding a victim the sum of N37 million. George was arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on 23 counts of forgery and obtaining by false pretence.

According to the EFCC, George, through his company, Bravem Service Limited, allegedly posed as an NNPC staff and obtained N37 million from his victim in order to supply them two barrels of Bonny Light Crude. 

When the matter came up, the court, presided by Justice E. A. Obile, ordered that George be remanded in Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
The matter was adjourned to April 7, 2020 for commencement of trial.
One of the counts against him reads: “That you Ebioenang Monday George, being the Managing Director of Bravem Services Limited on or about 11th March, 2015, at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N19,000,000.00 from ICS Energy Limited through your Company’s account, Bravem Services Limited domiciled in First Bank Plc with account number 2016700822 by false pretence, when you presented yourself as a staff of NNPC and capable of selling one Cargo carrying 2000,000 Barrels of Bonny Light Crude Oil, a pretence 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. No 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.” 

Earlier, the defendant, who was docked alongside his company, Bravem Services Limited, had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Due to his not guilty plea, the prosecuting counsel, N.A. Dodo, urged the court to fix a date for commencement of trial, but defense Counsel N.A Obiecheton, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable her file an application for the bail of the defendant.

Forgive us for kidnapping, 11 repented kidnappers beg Nigerians
Clement Ekong, Yola

Adamawa State Police Command has confirmed that no fewer than 11 repented kidnappers had surrendered voluntarily to the Command.

The State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Audu Madaki, disclosed this while presenting the repented kidnappers and other suspected criminals before journalists at the Command's Headquarters, Yola, on Tuesday.

Madaki explained that the Command, in its efforts to curtail criminal activities in the state, introduced strategies to pursue criminals out of all parts of the state.

According to the Commissioner, the crime rates in the month of February have reduced drastically. He disclosed that the reduction was due to collaboration between police and local vigilante members.

He noted that 13 AK47 rifles and 761 rounds of life ammunitions, 18 magazines, five locally made pistols, among others, were recovered from the repented kidnappers, who openly promised never to return to kidnapping business.

However, another five kidnappers were arrested by the police over their involvement in abduction and collection of ransom running into millions.  

The Police also arrested four suspects for alleged rape of minors. At least 51 suspects were arrested for alleged robbery and cultism. Madaki also disclosed that two suspected kidnappers, from Rema village of Dumne Community in Song Local Government and Tombo village in Girei Local Government Area, respectively collected N2.5 million as ransom. 

The CP said that over N1million was paid as ransom for the kidnap of Bello Modire, Dahiru Jobbore and Rani Tudun Wada.
The police boss then solicited for the support of all in ridding the state of undesirable elements. He appealed for useful information to enable the Command remain focus in fighting criminality. 

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