The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has docked one Ugwu Chekwube, before Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State.
The defendant was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N85million.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” after hearing the charges read to him and following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Nuradeen Ingawa, prayed the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant at the Enugu State prison.
Defence counsel, M. Onwuzuruoha, however, told the court about a pending bail application before it.
Justice Umar, thereafter, adjourned the matter till April 17, 2024, for hearing on the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at Enugu State prison.
Chekwube was arrested by the EFCC for allegedly luring a construction company, Zod International Developers, to pay him N85million under the pretence that he would help the company secure a contract for the construction of six district hospitals in Ebonyi State.
After collecting the said amount, the defendant neither secured the contract nor refund the money to the petitioner.
