Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday arraigned two suspects before Justice S. I. Mark of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on two- count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense to the tune of N10.7million for supply of diesel.
The suspects, Chukwuma Samuel Kaniku and Muhammad Abdullahi, were arrested by the EFCC following a petition by one Aliyu Baba Muhammad, that the duo defrauded him of N10,700,000.00, an amount he paid them to supply nine trucks of AGO from a registered depot in Port Harcourt.
Muhammad in the petition also alleged that the suspects promised to deliver the petroleum products upon payment of the agreed sum but refused to supply the products as agreed since 2018.
One of the count charges read: “That you Chukwuma Samuel Kaniku and Muhammad Abdullahi between the month of April to July, 2018 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N10,700.000.00, from one Aliyu Baba Muhammad into Account Number: 0059009063 domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by you, under the false pretence that the said sum was payment for the supply of 9 Trucks of AGO, a 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 offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.
The suspects, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them.
In view of their pleas, Prosecution Counsel, Barr. N. A. Dodo, prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.
However, Counsel to the 1st defendant, Barr. S. U. Amakiri, made an oral application for the bail of the 1st defendant and it was declined by the court.
Similarly, Counsel to the 2nd defendant, Barr. M. M. Suleiman, prayed the court for a short adjournment to enable him file an application for the bail of his client.
Justice Mark ordered that the defendants be remanded in Port Harcourt’s Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter for hearing of bail applications.
