Commission arraigns man for allegedly issuing N3m dud cheques

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October 13, 2016 1:12 AM

Onyia is facing an Enugu High Court on a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences

EFCC Operatives

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Ikechukwu Onyia in Enugu for allegedly issuing N3 million dud cheque to offset his indebtedness to a friend.

The zonal office of the commission in Enugu said in a statement on Wednesday that the accused was brought before an Enugu High Court on a four-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences.

Onyia was accused of issuing a Fidelity Bank dud cheque number 17598860 dated April 8, 2015 of N3 million in favour of one Emeka Okonkwo.

The statement said the offence contravened the Dishonored Cheques Offences Act, Cap D11, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

It also alleged that the accused, formerly of EMEL Group of Companies in Lagos, had in January 2015 got a N3 million loan from Okonkwo to enable him to import baby diapers.

The deal, according to the EFCC, was an agreement to pay an interest of N1.5 million in return for the capital.

However, the accused was alleged to have at various times issued six post-dated cheques to the complainant after failing to pay the capital and interest.

When the charges were read, Onyia pleaded not guilty.

The prosecution counsel, Mr Muhammad Shehu, prayed the court to remand him in prison custody.

However, the defence counsel, Mr C. B. Onovo, applied for bail on the strength of a motion for bail dated Oct. 10 and filed on Oct. 11.

Meanwhile, the EFCC said that after a thorough investigation, it discovered that the company the accused fronted, Alteal Enterprises, was fictitious and without presence in the registered address.

The commission alleged that further investigations revealed that the accused fraudulently entered into the deal to use the loan to offset debts incurred from his former office which led to his dismissal.

In his ruling, Justice C.O. Ajah granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 and one surety in like sum, and adjourned the case to Nov. 7 for trial.

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