The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, charged one Obiorah Emelife before an Enugu State High Court, Enugu for alleged N72million fraud.
Trial judge in the matter is Justice C.O Ajah.
The defendant was arrested sometime in 2023 following a petition that he allegedly defrauded one Atansi Obinna ( now deceased) over a cement business.
Investigation revealed that the defendant diverted the money meant for the purchase of hundreds of bags of cement.
One of the charges reads; “That you Obiorah Emelife between November 25, to December 22, 2022 at Enugu State within the jurisdiction of this court did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the aggregate sum ofN4.18millio, property of Nweke Ugo, the said sum being payment for the purchase of 1,100 bags of cement and thereby committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Revised Edition, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 353 (1) of the same law.”
Another count reads, “That you, Obiorah Emelife between September and December 2022 at Enugu State within the jurisdiction of this court did commit a felony to wit: Stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the aggregate sum of N45million, property of Obinna Atansi, the said sum being payment for the purchase of bags cement from customers, thereby committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Revised Edition, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 353 (1) of the same law.”
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The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Following his plea, counsel to EFCC, Edozie Raymond prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison and adjourn for trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case.
However, the defence counsel made an oral application for bail.
After listening to both counsel, Justice Ajah ordered the remand of the defendant at the Enugu prison and adjourned the matter to July 20, 2023.
