Five Onitsha market leaders arraigned for allegedly stealing N15 million
The police in Anambra state have arraigned five Onitsha market leaders at the Onitsha Magistrate Court 11 for allegedly stealing and misappropriating public fund amounting to over N15million.
Anthony Chiloli, President of Uba Planks and Joist Association (UPJA), Bridge head, Onitsha in Anambra State and other members of his executives; Ajaegbo Godwin, Odera Nwosu, Anadumaka Chukwuma, and Rapuluchukwu Okafor, were arraigned for five–count charge of conspiracy and stealing.
In the charge, the prosecuting police officer, ASP Crescent Ogbu, said Chiloli and Ajaegbo, between October 18, 2012 and May 15, 2016, conspired to commit offence with stealing, punishable under section 495 (a) of the criminal code, revised laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991.
Chiloli was also charged with stealing the sum of N15.4million being the property of UPJA, which is an offence punishable under section 358 (12) of criminal code, revised laws of Anambra state 1991.
Ajaegbo on his part, was said to have on November 5, 2014, at First Bank PLC, Bridge Head branch allegedly stolen the cash sum of N500,000.00, property of UPJA.
Nwosu, on the same day, was said to have stolen the cash sum of over N2million being the property of UPJA, punishable under section 353(12) of the criminal code, revised laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.
Anadumaka, the prosecution said, stole the sum of N251, 000.00, property of UPJA, between October 18, 2012 and May 25, 2016, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 353 (12), of the criminal code, revised laws of Anambra state 1991.
But the accused persons pleaded not guilty in the all the five-account charges.
The counsel to the accused persons, G. B. Obi, asked the court to grant the accused bail. This which was granted by the presiding magistrate, Chioma Amulukwe, who asked that they deposit their three years tax clearance, which must be confirmed by the police.
The presiding magistrate adjourned the case to March 27, 2017.
