EFCC drags woman to court for N5.6m fraud in Kano

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned Ebonine Rita Uzoamaka, before Justice Maryam Sabo of the Kano State High Court sitting for alleged fraud.

A statement issued by the Media and Publicity department of the commission said the petitioner, Ochayi Anthony Eneche, was allegedly persuaded to invest the sum N5, 660,000 (Five Million Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira in a business by the defendant, a colleague of his at Sonia Food Industry Limited Lagos.

‘’After making the payment into an Access bank account of the defendant, he was assured that the goods will be delivered in three days but the promise was not kept,’’ the statement said.

Solacebase reports that the investigation revealed that on 26th February 2021 the defendant informed the complainant that his goods were already in Kano with FG Logistic Transport Company. He went there the next day but found no trace of the items.

It said the charge read, “that you EBONINE RITA UZOAMAKA on or about 15th to 23rd January 2021 at Kano within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court dishonestly misappropriated certain property to wit: the sum of N5,660,000.00 (Five Million Six Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira Only) belonging to Ochayi Anthony which you caused to be paid into your bank account number 0093030293 domiciled with Access Bank Plc for the supply of D-Rice Baking Powder from Aba, Abia State and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 309 of the Penal Code.

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According to the statement, the defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.

‘’In view of her plea, prosecuting counsel Salihu Sani asked the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Facility and fix a date for trial to commence.’’

However the defence counsel, Barr. Isaac N. Ambule urged the court to allow the defendant to continue with the administrative bail earlier granted her by the EFCC.

He said that the defendant has signed an agreement with the nominal complainant on the settlement term.

‘’The defendant has signed an agreement with the nominal complainant and terms of settlement within six months. She has already paid N1m and expected to do the same monthly, to liquidate the total sum, said Barr. Ambule.

‘’The EFCC has a copy of the agreement signed and a bankers draft of N1m has been deposited by the defendant.’’

‘’Prosecution counsel informed the court that he was served with the bail motion this morning and he needed time to respond. Sani added that the Commission was not a party to the settlement mentioned by the defence counsel.’’

‘’Justice Sabo ordered the defendant to continue on administrative bail granted her by the EFCC pending the hearing and determination of her bail application.’’

‘’The matter has been adjourned till October 7, 2021.’’