The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Office has arraigned a motor dealer, Emmanuel Adiele, for allegedly obtaining by false pretence the sum of N2, 960, 000.
Adiele was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.
Orilade said, “Adiele got into trouble when he allegedly collected the sum of N2.9 million, in two instalments, from one of his customers who offered to purchase a Ford Edge Sports Utility Vehicle from him.
“The petitioner alleged that he made full payments for the vehicle, but the defendant neither delivered it to him nor returned his money to him. He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him”.
His one-count charge reads: “That you, Emmanuel Adiele between 5th and 15th October, 2015 at Port Harcourt within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained by false pretence, the sum of Two Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira (N2,960,000) only from Celine Nwokotubo as payment for a Ford Edge Jeep (Sport Utility Vehicle) 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 related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Following Adiele’s not guilty plea, prosecuting counsel, Soares Adebayo, applied for a date for commencement of trial and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
But the defence counsel, P.I. Imabimo, told the court that he had applied for bail of the defendant, adding that, the offence of his client was bailable.
In this consideration, presiding Justice Abubakar granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N2 million and one surety in like sum, who must not be below grade level 10 in the civil service and which must be verified by the prosecution.
The case as adjourned to February 25, for trial while the defendant was remanded in prison custody.
