Metro

Rivers Court Remands Couple Over Alleged N500m Fraud

Published

6 months ago

November 29, 2023

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has remanded a couple; Mr Emmanuel Dike and his wife, Ugochi Dike in the Port Harcourt Correctional Center over alleged N500 million fraud.

The couple who are facing five counts of conspiracy and fraud in suit Number FHC/PH/458c/ 2023 were also granted bail by the trial Judge, Justice Patricia I. Ajoku.

When the matter was mentioned in court on Wednesday, the couple separately pleaded not guilty to the charge filed by the Federal Government through the Port Harcourt Zonal Officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

According to the charge, the accused persons allegedly defrauded a company – Clipboard Office Superstores Limited, of the sum of N500 million with the pretence that it was for investment purposes that would yield the company 10 per cent interest.

Parts of the counts read, “That you Ugochi Eziaku Dike, Emmanuel Dike, Dike and Phils Associates Ltd.; Kelechi Chigozirim Ahiawe (still at large). and Ampletech Integrated Services Ltd, sometimes between August 24, 2020, and February 15, 2021, at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: obtaining money by false pretence, and thereby committed an offence and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section l(3) of the Same Act.

“That you Ugochi Eziaku Dike, Emmanuel Dike, Dike and Phil Associates Ltd., Kelechi Chigoirim Ahiawe (still at large). and Ampletech Integrated Services Ltd, at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court. fraudulently converted to your own use, Five Hundred Million Naira, (N500, 000, 000.00) only, property of Clipboard Office Superstores Limited contrary to Section 383(1) and (2) (a) of the Criminal Code Act, and punishable under section 390 (9) of the same Act.”

Also at the mention of the matter, the defense counsel, Jerome Okeke, told the court that he had filed an 11-paragraph affidavit to support his bail application.

Okeke pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail, assuring that they would be present at all sitting and would not jump bail.

But the prosecution counsel, Dr Ben Ubi who also filed an 18-paragraph affidavit to counter the bail application, told the court to refuse the bail plea.

Reacting to the arguments on the bail application, Justice Ajoku granted the bail application by the defense counsel.

Justice Ajoku granted bail of N1 million each to the couple with a surety that must be up to grade level 12 civil servants in Rivers state and should present a letter of employment and certificate of occupancy.

The court continued that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, produce passports, photograph and admonish the lawyer to ensure his clients appear in court in the next sitting.

The court, however, adjourned till January 30, 2024, for trial and remanded the accused persons in the Port Harcourt Correctional Center, pending when they meet the bail conditions.

Metro

Woman Allegedly Kills Self Over Failed Marriage

Published

4 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

A Nigerian woman, Margaret Oyibo Atayi, has allegedly committed suicide over her failed marriage.

The mother of two from Ugbokolo Local Government Area of Benue State was found dead three days after she was declared missing by her family members.

She was last seen around City College Of Education, Abacha road, Mararaba, Nasarawa State at about 3am on Friday, May 17, 2024.

Since then, all efforts to locate her whereabouts proved abortive until her sister, Ochanya Chelle, confirmed that she was found dead on Monday, May 20.

According to her father, Mr. Patrick Atayi, she committed suicide after falling into depression due to her marital crisis.

“Margaret was a mother of two children. She has been in depression for some time now due to mistreatment by her husband,” he explained.

“She went out on that fateful Friday morning by 3am without the knowledge of anybody. Her body was discovered in the late hours of Monday, and every available evidence confirmed that she committed suicide.”

A close source who confirmed the incident to Idoma Voice Newspaper said; “This is very unfortunate. In an effort to search for her, I reached out to her father and discovered that she was a mother of two children and that she went into depression for some time, which led to her going out that Friday night at 3 am without anyone’s knowledge, resulting in this unfortunate incident.

“Please, no one should die in silence, no matter the situation you find yourself in. Please speak out; you could be helped and overcome it. Nothing is worth taking your life for or dying for.

“Above all, embrace God and enjoy the peace of God.”

Metro

Delta Attack: Police Reclaim Stolen Rifles, Arrest Kidnappers

Published

5 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force said they have made progress in combating crime and restoring security in Delta State and beyond, following the tragic events in Ohoro Forest, Ughelli, where police operatives were ambushed and gruesomely murdered, leading to the loss of thirteen (13) police rifles.

According to a press release issued on Tuesday via X by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) has successfully recovered ten (10) of the stolen arms during a coordinated operation in which they engaged the suspects in a gun duel.

“Following the recent tragic events in Ohoro Forest, Ughelli Delta State, where some police operatives were ambushed and gruesomely murdered leading to the loss of thirteen (13) police rifles to the criminal suspects, the FID-IRT have successfully recovered ten (10) of these arms,” Adejobi stated.

The statement revealed that during the operation, some of the suspects were neutralised, while the police operatives reclaimed ten (10) of the stolen weapons and recovered additional arms used by the assailants.

In another significant development, the Nigeria Police addressed the kidnapping crisis that plagued the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with the arrest of suspects.

“Additionally, the Nigeria Police has effectively addressed the kidnapping crisis that has plagued the Lagos-Ibadan expressway with the arrest of six (6) members of the notorious kidnapping gang terrorizing the area,” the statement read.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to reducing crime to the barest minimum, leveraging on recent charges for succinct intelligence gathering and sharing for effective operational deployments.

“The IGP has reassured the public that the Police will continue to employ all necessary measures to combat criminal activities across the nation as the safety and security of Nigerian citizens remain the top priority, and the Force is committed to maintaining peace and order through diligent and proactive efforts,” Adejobi stated.

The IGP reiterated the determination of his leadership to create a safe and secure environment for all citizens while appreciating their support and cooperation.

Metro

Teacher Bags 15 Years For Raping Minor In Ekiti

Published

6 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, has sentenced a 45 years old teacher, Oluwagbemi Alabi, to 15 years imprisonment for raping an eight years old girl.

Alabi, who committed the offence in 1999, was arraigned on 25th August 2023 on one count charge of rape.

The charge read, “Alabi Oluwafemi sometime in the year 1999 at Ikere Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did rape an eight-year-old girl, at the time of committing the offence.

“The offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 1978.”

In his testimony before the court, the victim, who said Alabi was his teacher and neighbour, said, “He touched my breast each time he came to teach me at home, I did not understand anything about what he was doing until he raped me in our sitting room when my mother travelled to Lagos and left me and my sister at home.

“He removed my cloth and used it to clean the blood and sperm and threw it away. I later ran to our neighbours weeping, they thought I was missing my mother, but I did not tell them what happened.

The victim, who said he dropped out of school since she could no longer concentrate on her studies, stated, “I was afraid anytime I saw him in the class. He came across me on Facebook sometime in the year 2012, he sent me a friend request and I declined.

“In the year 2023 again, he started disturbing me, I reported the matter to the law enforcement agents, and I was advised to ignore him.

“Thereafter, he started sending disturbing and annoying videos and messages to me, referring to the past ugly incident. When I could no more bear it, I decided to take legal action against him”, she told the court.

To prove his case, the prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, called two witnesses and tendered a confessional statement of the defendant, evidence of the defendant’s conversations with the nominal complainant, petition and printout from the screenshot of chats among others as exhibits.

The defendant spoke in his defence through his lawyer, Ademola Adeyemi, and called two witnesses.

In the judgment, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye said, “The sexual intercourse with the victim could not have been consensual in that, she, as an eight-year-old girl, was a minor and lacked the capacity to consent to sexual intercourse.

“The confessional statement of the defendant also showed without equivocation that the defendant indeed committed the offence.

“This issue is resolved in favour of the prosecution and the defendant is found guilty as charged.

“One of the aims of sentencing is to serve as a deterrent. The defendant is hereby sentenced to 15 years imprisonment without option of fine,” the judge pronounced.
PUNCH