EFCC arraigns man for faux N85m contract in Enugu

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Enugu State Zonal Command, has arraigned one Ugwu Chekwube before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.

The defendant and his accomplice, Ugo Onuaguluchi, now at large, were charged with the pretence to defraud one Zod International Developers to the tune of N85 million to secure a contract for the construction of six district hospitals in Ebonyi State.

This was disclosed via the commission’s X handle on Monday, adding that Chekwube was arraigned on a four-count bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N85m.

It was gathered that after collecting the said amount, “the defendant neither secured the contract nor refunded the money to the petitioner.”

One of the four counts read, “That you, Ugwu Alexander Chekwube and one Ugo Sunday Onuaguluchi (At large) from 2nd November 2022 to 6th December 2022 in Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.”

It added that the intention of the fraudsters was “to defraud induced one Zod International Developers to deliver to you the sum of N85,000,000.00 (Eighty-five million naira), under the pretence that you will help him secure a contract for the construction of six District Hospitals in Ebonyi State.”

The statement noted that Chekwube “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” after hearing the charges read to him and following his plea.

“The counsel for the EFCC, Nuradeen Ingawa, prayed to the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant at the Enugu State Correctional Centre.

“Defence counsel, M. C. Onwuzuruoha, however,  told the court about a pending bail application before it.” it read.

Justice Umar thereafter adjourned the matter till April 17, 2024, for a hearing on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.

Operatives of the anti-graft agency arrested 37 suspected internet fraudsters in different parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of an investigation.