EFCC Press Release : EFCC Arraigns Man for N4.5m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Friday June 21, 2013 arraigned one Philip Njoku (a.k.a Engineer Ben) before Justice U.N Agomoh of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on a 4-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.

When the charge was read to the accused, he pleaded not guilty.

One of the counts read; “That you Philip Njoku (also known as Engr. Ben ),  Elder James Amadi and Captain Lee Khum (both now at large) on or about the 12th day of June, 2012 at Port Harcourt with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000:00) only from one Ahmed B. Aliyu under the pretext of supplying him oil drilling cork, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrarily to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.

Another count reads; “That you Philip Njoku (also known as Engr.Ben), Elder James Amadi and Captain Lee Khum (both now at large) on or about the 14th day of June, 2012 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of One Million Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,350,000:00) only from one Ahmed B. Aliyu under the pretext of supplying him oil drilling cork a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) 0f the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the sane Act”.

Justice Agomoh granted the accused bail in the sum of one million naira, two sureties in like sum. Sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction of court and must provide evidence of ownership of property within Port Harcourt.

The case was adjourned to October 3, 2013.

Wilson Uwujaren

Ag. Head, Media & Publicity

24^th June, 2013