The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office on Tuesday, arraigned the duo of Eric Igbe Aruku and Aggrey Godwin Ikani before Justice S. M Shu’aibu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Calabar, Cross River State on a 3-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N4, 600, 000.00.
The commission in a statement sent to theportcitynews said the duo ran into troubles when they allegedly deceived a petitioner that they had a Local Purchase Order (LPO) for the supply of over five trucks of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) on a weekly basis, awarded to them by Frank Donelitiesa company in Lagos.
The commission said that the duo claimed to have had some cash deposits in an Escrow account in Zenith bank dedicated for the business.
According to the commission, the 1st defendant (Aruku) allegedly convinced the petitioner to part with N5,000,000 which was later diverted by both defendants.
The petitioner also alleged that it was after the payment of N3, 900,000 via a Zenith Bank account: Phadim Enterprises Ltd., that he realized that he had been duped, because the defendants did not supply the LPFO as promised.
According to the commission, count one of the charge read: ‘’that you Aggrey Godwin Ikani and Eric Igbe Aruku on or about the 24th February, 2017, at Ogoja, Cross Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of Three Million, Nine Hundred Thousand Naira, only (N3,900,000.00) from one Emmanuel Atu, under the false pretence that the money was meant for onward supply of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) which you falsely claimed you have negotiated with one Frankdonelities Ltd, based in Lagos and that the products would be made available through the Nigerian Port Authority, Warri, a pretext which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud-related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.
The statement said the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to them.
Prosecution counsel, F. O Dibang asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.
However, counsel to the defendant, Christiana Edem, told the court that she had filed a bail application for her clients and urged the court to give her a short date for bail hearing.
Justice Shu’aibu adjourned the case to 7 November, 2018 for bail hearing and ordered that the defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of their bail.
