EFCC Arraigns University Professor Over N56m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on
Tuesday arraigned a university professor, Brimmy Olaghere, before Justice U.P
Kekemeke of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo, on a two-count charge of
obtaining goods and cars by false pretence.

Mr. Olaghere had allegedly defrauded one Okwosu Chinedu and
a company, Joyjoe Global Link Limited, of the sum of N56,032,000.

According to the first count, Mr. Olaghere defrauded Mr.
Chinedu of goods worth over N20 million in July last year.

“That you Brimmy Asekhruagbon Uzimeghan Olaghere sometime in
July 2014 in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal
Capital Territory did, with intent to defraud, obtained various goods worth
N20,232,0000.

The first count said that the money was collected by the
professor from Mr. Chinedu under the false pretence that the said goods were
meant for “United Africa States”.

The charge added that Mr. Kekemeke committed an offence
contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related
Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.

According to the second count, he collected eight cars worth
N35,800,000 from Joyjoe Global Link Limited on pretence that United African
Diaspora States, United African States, New Africa’s World Bank and Federated
United African States ordered for the vehicles.

“That you Brimmy Asekharuagbon Uzimeghan Olaghere sometime
in July 2014 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the
Federal Capital Territory did, with intent to defraud, obtained eight
cars/goods worth the sum of N35,800,000 from Joyjoe Global Link Limited under
false pretence,” said the second count.

The false pretence, according to the count, was “that the
said cars were meant for United African Diaspora States, United African States,
New Africa’s World Bank and Federated United African States, which you knew to
be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the
Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable
under section 1 (3) of the same Act.”

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

Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Onjefu Obe, asked
the court for a trial date to present his witnesses.

The defence counsel, Ochumba Kingsley, however, urged the
court to admit his client to bail, assuring that the accused person will be
available to face his trial.

Mr. Kekemeke, thereafter, admitted the accused person to
bail in the sum of N20 million and two sureties in like sum, the sureties must
be senior civil servants and have landed property in FCT Abuja.

The case was adjourned to October 26, 2015 for commencement
of trial.

 Premium Times