The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday February 5, arraigned one Nweite Nneka Anthonia on one-count charge, bordering on obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N10,977,600.00.
Nweite was arraihned before before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State.
The charge reads, “That you, Nweite Nneka Anthonia, “f,” sometime in 2018 in Ekpan, Warri, Delta State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with the intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N10,977.600 from one Mr. Emmanuel Chiayanam Ugwu, through your bank account number 1020031999, domiciled in the United Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc under the pretence that the said sum was payment for the supply of 82,000 litres of premium motor spirit, PMS, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)( a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge, and in view of her plea, the prosecuting counsel, M.T. Iko, prayed the court for a date for the commencement of trial, asking that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Warri.
But, the defence counsel, I.K. Ehigheluwa, asked the court to grant the defendant bail.
Justice Nwite thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million and one surety in like sum.
The surety must own a landed property in Warri, with a certificate of occupancy to be verified by the court registrar. The surety is also to provide three years’ tax clearance certificate and deposit two of his passport photographs with the court.
The case was adjourned till March 30, for commencement of trial.
