EFCC docks man for serial frauds

The Abuja zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Charles Ufuoma Onodavberoh before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja on a 10-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretences.

The defendant was arrested by the Bank Fraud Unit of the EFCC following a petition by two complainants, namely, Mrs. Nsikat Edem Udoh and Alhaji Muhammed Idris, who alleged that he collected huge sums of money from them and presented them with a purported irrevocable bank commitment for a standby letter of credit with a face value of $150 million issued by PT Bank Negara, Indonesia (Persero) TBK for the building of a $500 million modula refinery in Cross River state.

Onodavberoh was also alleged to have further collected $15,000 and another N1.6million from the first complainant, Mrs. Nsikat Edem Udoh as well as N3.8million from the second complainant, Alhaji Muhammed Idris.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offence committed by the accused is 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.

However, Onodavberoh pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him, prompting the prosecution counsel, Offem Uket to ask the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending trial.

The defence counsel, however, made a bail application which the prosecution didn’t object to.

Justice Ojukwu granted him bail in the sum of N50million and one surety in like sum who must present evidence of tax payment from 2016 to 2018, two passport photographs and an international passport.

He remanded the defendant in Kuje Prison, Abuja and adjourned the matter to September 25 and 26 for commencement of trial.