The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Okoye Kenneth Chinedu, over alleged forgery, conspiracy and N66, 250,500 million got under false pretence.
They brought Chinedu before Justice I. B Gafai of the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra State. EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren said this in a statement in Abuja.
Further, he explained, “The defendant, posing as a land agent, allegedly conspired with his accomplices to defraud the complainant the sum of N66, 250, 500.00 on the pretext of purchasing several plots of land situated: Four plots of land at Commissioners Quarters, Awka at the cost of N14,000,000.00, and another twenty five plots of land at Agu-Awka Industrial Layout at the cost N55,000,000.00 .
“Investigation by the EFCC revealed that the land in question belong to a serving judge in one of the State High Courts and a former senator, respectively.
“It was also discovered that Okoye, had forged some documents, broke security keys at the entrance to the said land and removed all the beacons to convince his victims he was the bonafide owner of the said plots of land”.
Count one charge read: “That you, Okoye Kenneth Chinedu, Alexander Kanayochukwu Nwammadu (still at large), Mogbo Chika Emmanuel (still at large) and other persons still at large sometimes between 2016 and 2018 at Awka, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit: getting the total sum of N62,700,500.00(Sixty Two Million, Seven Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) by false pretense and committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
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But Okoye reportedly pleaded not guilty to charges preferred against him.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, Onome Marshal Umukoro asked for a trial date while the defense counsel, Henry Onugwu moved a motion for the bail of his client.
In his ruling, Justice Gafai granted Okoye bail with two sureties whom he said must be civil servants within the jurisdiction, not below grade level 13.
He also ordered that the sureties must be verified by the EFCC and that Okoye be remanded in the Correctional Centre, pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The matter was, however, adjourned to 14 January 2020 for trial.
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