The Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a pair, Emmanuel Dike and Ugochi Eziaku Dike, for an alleged N500 million funding rip-off.
This was disclosed in a press release posted on the official X deal with of the EFCC on Thursday night.
According to the assertion, the couple was arraigned alongside their firm, Dike & Phil Associates Ltd, on Wednesday, November 29, by the EFCC on five-count prices bordering on conspiracy, acquiring cash below false pretence and prison conversion of funds to private use.
One of the fees learn, “That you Ugochi Eziaku Dike, Emmanuel Dike, Dike & Phil Associates Ltd; Kelechi Chigozirim Ahiawe (still at large), and Ampletech Integrated Services Ltd, sometime between the 24th day of August, 2020 and 15th day of February, 2021, at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira only from one Captain Chukwuemeka Stanley Ikeri, a Nigerian citizen and his company- Clipboard Office Superstores Limited, under the pretext that it was for investment purposes that will yield him 10% interest, which you all claimed to have the capability to deliver to him, which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
The assertion additional learn that the couple pleaded not responsible to the fees learn to them.
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel Dr. B. Ubi, prayed the court docket for a trial date, whereas counsel to the defendants, J. C. Okeke, knowledgeable the court docket of his software for the bail of the primary and second defendants. He prayed the court docket to grant the defendants bail to allow them put together for trial.
Justice Ajoku granted the defendants bail within the sum of 1 million Naira every, with two sureties in like sum.
The defendants had been remanded within the Port Harcourt Correctional Service pending the perfection of their bail situations, and the matter was adjourned to January 30, 2024 for graduation of trial.