The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Rhas Nigeria Limited and its director, Liwa Sarirddine, before Justice A.H. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over the alleged issuance of a ₦10 million dishonoured cheque.
The defendants were arraigned by the EFCC’s Abuja Zonal Directorate on a one-count charge bordering on the alleged issuance of a dud cheque.
According to the charge, Rhas Nigeria Limited and Sarirddine allegedly obtained credit from Ismail and Partners in Abuja in 2020 through a cheque dated October 15, 2020.
The anti-graft agency alleged that when the cheque was presented for payment within three months of its issuance, it was dishonoured and returned due to insufficient funds in the account on which it was drawn.
The EFCC stated that the alleged offence contravenes Section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act, Cap. D11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and is punishable under Sections 1(1)(i) and 1(1)(ii) of the same Act.
Sarirddine pleaded not guilty to the charge on behalf of himself and the company.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel, Mariya U. Shariff, requested that the court fix a date for trial and urged that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending the commencement of proceedings.
Counsel for the defence subsequently applied for bail, a request that was not opposed by the prosecution.
Justice Musa granted Sarirddine bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties in like amount. The court further ordered that one of the sureties must be a Level 10 civil servant, while both sureties are required to depose to affidavits that will be verified by the court registrar.
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