The
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday May 7, 2013
arraigned four members of the self-styled National Task
Force on Illegal
Importation of Goods, Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons, NATFORCE, before Justice N. Agishi of the Federal High Court, Enugu, on a 9-count
charge of conspiracy, extortion and obtaining money under false pretence.
Obinna C.
Onyekwelu, Emmanuel Ngwu, Ogunjimi Charles (at large) and Onyia Fidelia (at
large) are alleged to belong to a syndicate which extorts money from
unsuspecting Nigerians under the pretext of helping them secure employment with
the federal government. The scammers defrauded
hundreds of job seekers by deceitfully selling recruitment forms to them at
five thousand naira each with promises of offering them employment in Federal
Government establishments.
The
accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
The
prosecution counsel, Mainforce Adaka, asked the court to fix a trial date since
there was no bail application before the court. However the defence
counsel objected and made an oral application for bail.
Justice
Agishi granted bail to each of the accused in the sum of N300, 000.00 each with
two sureties in like sum who should either be a businessman in Enugu or a civil
servant on grade level 10 and above. The case
was adjourned to June 12, 2013 for hearing.
The
quartet is the first batch of suspects to be arraigned by the EFCC since the
anti-graft agency burst the racket that cut across the six zones of the
country. A certain Osita Emmanuel Okereke,
self-acclaimed director –general of the National Task Force on Illegal
Importation of Goods, Small Arms, Ammunition and Light Weapons, NATFORCE, was
apprehended in January, after spurning several invitations, and grilled for his
role in the mega scam.
The organization's claim to recognition and registration by government
has proven to be a hoax.
Wilson Uwujaren
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
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