EFCC arraigns three for land scam

EFCC Press Release

 

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, February 9, 2015 arraigned Daniels Nat, Dennis Edimoh and Peter Oko Amadi before Justice Abubakar Mahmud Talba of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on a four-count charge bordering on criminal breach of trust, forgery and conspiracy.

The accused are alleged to have forged Federal Government Certificate of Occupancy to plot No 42, Block XIII, Federal Government Layout, Gwarimpa District, Abuja, which was duly allotted to one Mr Adekoya Daniel Oladepo.

The trio used the forged certificate as collateral to solicit investment from Ambifel Services Limited, whom they swindled to the tune of N7million having promised 30 percent return on investment after a maturity period of 60 days. Since the release of the fund, they went underground.

Count two of the charge reads:

“that Daniels Nat, Dennis Edimoh and Peter Oko Amadi sometime in September, 2012 within the judicial division of the High Court of the FCT being entrusted with the sum of N7.000,000.00 (seven million naira) only, dishonestly convert same to your own use and thereby committed breach of trust in respect of the said amount, an offence punishable under section 312 of the Penal Code LFN (Abuja) 1990”.

The accused pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.

In view of the plea, the prosecuting counsel, Faruk Abdallah, humbly applied for a date to enable the prosecution open its case.

However, counsel to the first accused, N.U Akpan,  through an oral application pleaded for bail of his client (Daniels Nat),  stating that bail is a constitutional right.

Counsel to the second accused, M. Igwe, aligned himself with the position of the first accused counsel in praying for the bail of his client. He also told the court that the accused had been on administrative bail and been appearing before EFCC anytime the need arises.

While relying on Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, Igwe prayed the court to consider his client for bail saying, “the offence is bailable”.

Counsel to the third accused, L.O Ilechukwu, also aligned herself with the prayers of the other counsel stating that the accused has not breached any term granted him by EFCC.

Prosecuting counsel, Abdallah,  raised no objection to the bail  applications of the second and third accused who, according to him, honoured the administrative bail terms earlier granted them by the Commission. However, he objected to the bail of the first accused on the ground that he had failed to honour the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Commission.

After listening to the argument of the counsel, Justice Talba granted bail to the second and third accused in the sum of N1m and two sureties each in like sum. Sureties must be resident in Abuja, and not below grade level 13 in the Federal Civil Service. He refused bail to the first accused and ordered him to be remanded in Kuje prison pending a formal application for bail.

The case has been adjourned to February 23 and 24, 2015 for commencement of trial.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

9^th February, 2015