A Kaduna State High Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Aliyu, has refused bail of Chimela Darlington, a suspected serial fraudster being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who parades himself as one of the contractors working on National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, in Taraba State, and duping unsuspecting victims of several millions of naira.
Darlington, through his counsel, Tony Mozie, had after his arraignment on December 4, 2014 filed an application for bail pending the determination of the case as the offence was a bailable one.
Mozie argued that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty and urged the court to exercise its discretion to his favour.
In response, counsel to EFCC, Charlotte Dennis told the court that Darlington’s integrity is doubtful as he had failed to honour the terms of administrative bail earlier granted him by the Commission. “When he was granted administrative bail, he couldn’t meet up and the accused did not comply with section 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code”, Dennis said.
The prosecuting counsel further stated that the accused person might frustrate his trial if admitted to bail and urged the court to refuse the application.
In his ruling, Justice Aliu held that for a crime exceeding three years, the accused must satisfy the conditions brought by section 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. He added that the accused must also assure the court that he will not commit another crime.
According to Justice Aliu, the applicant has not shown any cause to these conditions. He consequently refused the application.
The case has been fixed for February 12, 2015 for hearing.
Darlington, who goes by various names, including Daniel Promise, Eze Ihemere Eze, Chimela Ihechemere Eze, Michael Imodu, operates as syndicate with Daniel Akintunde, Comrade Obong Goodluck, and some others still at large to obtain money from Jerome Aseiza David, under false pretence, claiming to be contractors and electrical engineers, who have been awarded a federal government contract to install electrical equipment in Taraba State.
The accused and his cronies succeeded in duping David to the tune of N1.2million.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
