The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, February 9, 2015 arraigned three suspected fraudsters Nwabueze C. Nwabueze (alias HRM Ezeugo 1), his wife, Bridget Nwabueze (alias Juliet) and Ngozi Izime Orji (alias Ben Azua) before Justice H. A Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt , Rivers State on a seven count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of Eight Million Six Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira (N8, 630,000.00).
The trio and others at large are suspected leaders of a syndicate from Obagi Community, Ahoada, Rivers State , who engage in fraudulent acts of obtaining by false pretence and impersonation.
Count one of the charge reads:
“that you, Eze Nwabueze C. (alias Ezeugo 1) ‘M’, Bridget Nwabueze (alias Juliet), Ngozi Izime Orji (alias Ben Azua) and others now at large between September 2011 and March 2013 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006 and Punishable Under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Particulars of count two reads:
“that you Eze Nwabueze C. (alias Ezeugo 1) ‘M’, Bridget Nwabueze (alias Juliet), Ngozi Izime Orji (alias Ben Azua) and others now at large between 18th day of November, 2011 and 25th day of July, 2012 at Port Harcourt within jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Six Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N6, 650,000.00) from one Architect Austine Ilenre Emuan as logistic, registration and processing fee for the purported award of construction of cottage Hospital and supply of Hospital Equipments for Obagi Community, Onelga Local Government Area of Rivers, which was paid to you through one Ecobank Bank Account Number 0721050184507601 belonging to ONYEIJE BENSON, the pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offence Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charge.
Justice Nganjiwa ordered the first and the third accused persons to be remanded in prison custody pending their formal bail application. The second accused was tentatively released upon an undertaking by the counsel to enable her take care of her baby.
The case has been adjourned to March 30, 2015 for hearing on the bail application.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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