The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt Zonal Office has arraigned Nweite Nneka Anthonia for allegedly obtaining N10,977, 600.00 under false pretences.The suspect was made to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Warri, Delta State.

EFCC acting spokesman, Tony Orilade disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

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 Ten Million Nine Hundred and Seventy-Seven Thousand Six Hundred Naira only (N10,977.600) from one Mr. Emmanuel Chiayanam Ugwu through your bank account number 1020031999, domiciled in United Bank for Africa Plc under the pretense 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.”

But the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

On that basis, the prosecution counsel M.T. Iko prayed the court for a date of trial and for the defendant to be remanded in custody of Nigeria Correctional Service, Warri.

Unsatisfied, the defence counsel, I.K. Ehigheluwa asked the court to grant the defendant bail.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m and one surety in like sum who must own a landed property in Warri with a certificate of occupancy to be verified by the court registrar.

Nwite added that the surety would provide three years tax clearance certificate and deposit two of his passport photographs with the court

The case was adjourned to March 30 for commencement of trial.

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