An Enugu-based businessman, Nicholas Emenike, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Monday, before an Enugu High Court, presided over by Justice C.C. Ani, on a two-count charge bothering on obtaining the sum of N4,467,500 under false pretences and issuance of dud cheque to the tune of the same amount.
Emenike pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him.
In a petition brought before the EFCC on August 16, August, the suspect allegedly lied to the complainant that his company, Rosa Construction Company, had been awarded a multi–million contracts and needed him to supply iron rods worth N4.4 million to execute part of the contract on credit, pledging to pay up within a month.
But, after many months of non-payment of the said sum, and unending excuse that the contract had been cancelled by his client, the complainant then demanded to retrieve the iron rods, only to discover that they had been sold off by the accused person.
All efforts by the complainant to get his money proved abortive. Emenike was said to have issued a Diamond Bank cheque, which was not honoured by the bank because of insufficient funds in the account.
Emenike, who was due for arraignment on April 4, 2016, had jumped an administrative bail granted him by the Commission shortly before the date, but was subsequently re-arrested on March 17, culminating in his arraignment on Monday.
After his plea of not guilty, his lawyer, Barr Enih G. prayed the court to grant his client bail on the ground that he was not only sick, but had recently lost his wife; but the bail application was opposed by the prosecution counsel, Barr Michael Ani, on the ground that the accused had earlier jumped bail.
However, Justice Ani, graciously granted the suspect bail on health grounds to the tune of N2 million, with two sureties in like sum, adding that the sureties must swear to affidavits of means, be residence within the court’s jurisdiction and present three years tax clearance starting from 2015 to date.
The case has been adjourned to April 5 for hearing and offender mediation
