An undergraduate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Michael Uwachukwu, has been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for fraud. Uwachukwu was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice J.K Omotosho on four counts bordering on impersonation and obtaining money by false pretences. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the EFCC, Uwachukwu, under the guise of being evicted by his landlord, obtained $11,522 from a citizen of the United States of America, Krisha Arsenio. Following his plea, the prosecuting counsel, A. Osu, asked the court for a trial date, while the defence counsel, H .O. Amaefule, orally prayed the court to grant the defendant bail, which was declined by the court.
Omotosho adjourned the matter till January 21, 2021, and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Port Harcourt Custodial Centre pending the determination of his bail application. In another development, a lawyer, Bardi Robert, was arrested by the EFCC for allegedly stealing N15,712,187. Robert allegedly received a judgment fund of N15,712,187 from a Rivers State High Court on behalf of his client, Igwe Ugochukwu, and converted the money to personal use.
The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, who noted that Robert’s accomplice, Obinna Egwon, was at large, added that the suspect would be charged at the end of investigation.
PUNCH