EFCC arraigns suspected fraudster for impersonation in Enugu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned one Nweke Izuchukwu Jude before the Federal High Court in Enugu for allegedly impersonating officers of the anti-graft agency.

A statement by the EFCC on Monday via X noted that Jude was docked before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar on two-count charges bordering on impersonation and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N1,100,000 (One Million, One Hundred Thousand Naira).

According to the charge sheet, “Nweke Izuchukwu Jude, sometime in April 2024, at Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,100,000.00 from one Justin Chidozie Chukwukere when you fraudulently presented yourself as an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, a pretence you knew to be false.”

The offense is contrary to Section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.

Jude pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him in court. The EFCC prosecutor, Ajobiewe Rotimi Enitan, subsequently requested a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility pending trial.

However, the defense counsel E.S. Umeojiakor informed the court of a pending bail application and sought Jude’s release on liberal terms.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Umar granted Jude bail on the following conditions: “bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. One of the sureties must have a landed property within the jurisdiction and they must be verified by the court Registrar.”

The matter was adjourned to October 9, 2024, for trial while the defendant was remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility pending the perfection of his bail conditions.