EFCC Arraigns Hacker For N15mn Banking Fraud

EFCC Arraigns Hacker For N15mn Bank Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, November 26, 2019, arraigned one Christopher Okeke alongside his company, Sanfill Nigeria LTD before Justice D.Z Senchi of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja on a two-count charge of obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N15,300,000 (Fifteen Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira).

Okeke was alleged to have fraudulently used his company to hack into the account of Chams Nigeria LTD and moved the total sum of N15,300,000 (Fifteen Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira) only into his company, Sanfill Nigeria LTD.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Christopher Okeke, whilst being the Director of Sanfill Nigeria Ltd. and Sanfill Nigeria LTD on or about 4th and 7th October 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja did with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain the sum of N9,500,000 (Nine Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) only and N5,800,000 (Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira) only respectively from Chams Nig LTD, Wema Bank a/c No. 0121579940 and transfers to Sanfill Nig LTD a/c No. 6001591797 domiciled in Heritage Bank under the false pretence that the sum was purportedly transferred from Oluwakemi Esene with email [email protected] and [email protected] accountant of Chams Nigeria LTD which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other related offences act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges. In view of his plea, the Prosecution counsel, Steve E. Odiase asked for a date for commencement of trial.

Justice Senchi while adjourning the matter to February 26, 2019 admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of One Million Naira with two sureties in like sum. The sureties, the court ruled, must be residents of Abuja and must sign an undertaking to provide the defendant on the dates of trial.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
26th November, 2018

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EFCC Arraigns Cooperative Members for N33m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on November 26, 1018 arraigned Hajiya Mauro Z. Usman, Mohammed Sani Agae, Isa Alhaji Chado and Jonah Ihie before Justice Aisha Bwari of the Niger State High Court, Minna, on a five-count charge bothering on criminal conspiracy, forgery, cheating and issuance of dud cheque.

The defendants were previously scheduled for arraignment on November 8, 2018 but it was stalled due to the absence of Ihie, the fourth defendant.

The EFCC had through its Economic Government Unit, received a petition against some staff of the Government House Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Minna, Niger State, in 2016.

Investigations into the petition revealed that on September 25, 2012 the petitioner’s company, First Concept Limited went into contract agreement with the Cooperative Society to supply them with 3,000 bags of 50kg Indian Parboiled Rice to their staff as their Christmas bonus for the year 2012. The supply was to be at N11,000 per bag which totalled N33 million.

However, Usman being one of the signatories to the account conspired with the other defendants to forge signatures of the cooperative account in a bid to divert the alleged sum to their personal use.

One of the charges reads: “That you Hajiya Mario Z. Usman (while being the signatory to account no 1340024555 belonging to Government House Staff Multi- Purpose) on or about the 10th day of January, 2013, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with knowledge that you had insurgents funds in your account issued to First Concept Limited with Bank PHB (Now Keystone Bank) cheque dated 10/01/13, for the sum of N9,000,000 (Nine Million Naira) which was dishonoured due to insufficient funds in your account and hereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (1) (b) (i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap D 11, Laws of the Federation, 2004.”

Defence counsel, Musa Suleiman referring to the motion on notice dated November 21, 2018 for the bail application requested for bail after the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges against them.

In response, Counsel to EFCC, Halidu Mohammed, said he had concerns that the defendants may jump bail if granted bail due to the previous absence of the fourth defendant.

“The accused persons having taken their plea, we will like to request for a date to open our defence,” Mohammed added.

Justice Bwari, thereafter adjourned the case to January 24, 2019 while setting the bail conditions to N1 million and two sureties each in like sum.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity