The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday June 13, 2014 arraigned one Henry Azuike before Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo, Abuja on a 13-count charge of attempting to obtain money under false pretence from friends and associates of a former presidential aide and top official of Edo State government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday June 13, 2014 arraigned one Henry Azuike before Justice Sylvanus Chinedu Oriji of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo, Abuja on a 13-count charge of attempting to obtain money under false pretence from friends and associates of a former presidential aide and top official of Edo State government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere.
He allegedly hacked into Prof. Ihonvbere's email and began sending messages to his contacts, asking them to pay money into an account with a new generation bank.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the 13-count charge when it was read to him.
One of the counts reads: “That you Henry Azuike, and one Omamofe Efejuku now at large, one the 11th day of October 2011, in Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, did conspire to do an illegal act to wit: Attempt to obtain money under false pretences from friends and associates of one Professor Julius Ihonvbere and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Justice Oriji granted bail to the accused in the sum of Five Million Naira with two sureties in like sum. The two sureties shall be resident within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and their addresses shall be verified by the prosecuting counsel and the registrar of the court. One of the sureties shall be a civil servant of grade level 12 in the Federal Civil Service.
In a related development, one Olaitan Bamidele was also arraigned before Justice Oriji on a 3-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery.
One of the counts reads: “That you Olaitan Bamidele sometime between June and October 2009 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N5,700,000.00 (Five Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Ezeh Valentine Chukwujekwu under the pretence that you are going to secure a plot of land in Abuja for him, a fact which you knew was 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 (i)(3) of the same Act”.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Justice Oriji granted the accused bail in the sum of N5 million and two sureties in like sum. The two sureties must be resident within jurisdiction of the court. One of the sureties must be a civil servant not below grade level 12 in the Federal Civil Service.
The case has been adjourned to July 31, 2014 for commencement of trial.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
13th June, 2014