EFCC arraigns two for fraud in Makurdi, another in Maiduguri for converting land document

Etim Ekpimah

The Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, arraigned the duo of Okwuchukwu Charles and Saamuman Caleb Terungwa before Justice Moris Ikpambese of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi for alleged conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N5 million.

Count one of the charge reads, “That you Okwuchukwu Charles and you Saakuman Caleb Terungwa sometime in April 2021, in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves and took the sum of N5, 523,000.00 (Five Million, Five Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand Naira) only belonging to Cosmic Intelligence Labs Limited without its consent thereby committed an offence contrary to section 97 and punishable under section 288 of the Penal Code cap. 124(Revised Edition), Laws of Benue 2004″.

Count two reads,” That you Okwuchukwu Charles sometime in April 2021, in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonestly take the sum of N4, 523,000 (Four Million Five Hundred and Twenty Three Thousand Naira only) belonging to Cosmic Intelligence Labs Limited without its consent, thereby committed an offence contrary to section 287 and punishable under section 288 of the Penal Code cap. 124(Revised Edition), Laws of Benue 2004″

They pleaded “not guilty” to the charges, which prompted the prosecution counsel, George Chia-Yakua to ask the Court for a date for trial to commence. But counsel to the defendants, U. T. Urongo and Tom Uja, urged the court to admit their clients to bail on most liberal terms, noting that the defendants have been on EFCC’s administrative bail.

Justice Ikpambese admitted the defendants to bail in the sum N2,000,000.00 each with one surety in like sum.

The surety, the judge said, must show evidence of tax payment for three years, and must be on salary Grade Level 12 and above and be resident in Makurdi,

The case was adjourned till October 20, 2021, for trial to commence.

Meanwhile, the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, September 14, 2021 arraigned one David Osigbe Irumekhai before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri on one count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust.

The defendant allegedly used the original title documents of a property kept in his custody for safekeeping to secure a loan of N2, 300, 000.00 (Two Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira).

The count read: “That you David Osigbe Irumekhai sometime in February 2021 in Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court being entrusted with original title document in respect of Plot No. 86 BOTP/99 Fika Close on Damboa Road, Comm/Res Layout area of 1800sq.m by Tosin Joseph Todo for safekeeping converted the title document to your personal use in violation of the mode in which such trust is to be discharged and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 311 Penal Code Law Cap 102, Laws of Borno State 1994 and punishable under section 312 of the same Act.”

Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the one-count charge.

He stated that upon his plea, prosecution counsel, Mukhtar Ali Ahmed asked the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in the correctional facility pending the outcome of the case.

Justice Kumaliya adjourned the matter till September 22, 2021, for commencement of trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Correctional Centre.