Glory Ebomah
The Makurdi Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, arraigned one Terwase Iorchor before Justice Abdu Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, on a one-count charge bordering on obtaining N630,000 (Six Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) by false pretence.
The charge reads: “That you Terwase Iorchor “M”, sometime between October 2018 and August 2019, in Makurdi, Benue State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N630, 000.00 (Six Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira) only from one Donald Ayaka under the pretense that you were the owner of the Land which you sold to him, Plot 100ft x 100ft situate behind Police Mobile Barrack, Makurdi, Benue State which you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said the defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.
Upon his plea, the prosecution counsel, George Chai-Yakua urged the Court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant to a Correctional Centre. But the defence counsel, Ladi Archibong informed the court of an application for bail which has been filed and served on the prosecution. He urged the Court to grant her client bail on the most liberal terms.
Justice Dogo adjourned the case till June 7, 2022, for a hearing of his bail application and remanded the defendant in Makurdi Correctional Centre.