Ebonyi State University Lecturer Docked Over N225m Fraud 

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Ebonyi State University Lecturer, Eze Onyekachi Richard, has been arrested and charged before the Court in Lagos State for fraud by allegedly obtaining the sum of for N225m from a victim,  Valentine Igwilo, under false pretence.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the lecturer, Richard, was arrested in Ebonyi State by the Police intelligence from Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Lagos and brought back to Lagos State, where he committed the alleged fraud to face criminal charge of conspiracy, obtaining the money in question and for stealing. 

The suspect, Richard, was alleged to have come from Ebonyi State, sometime in October 2021, to Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos and conspired with others now at large, obtained the money from Valentine Igwilo under the false pretence of giving him the equivalent of the said money in Dollars. 

However,  after he obtained the money,  he reportedly bolted away and did not give the complainant the equivalent of the money in Dollars as he had promised nor refund the money he collected from Igwilo. 

He was said to have made promises and when he failed, he went into hiding and disconnected every known means of communication he had with the complainant and remained at large. 

The complainant reported the alleged fraud to the Police through a petition to the AIG, Zone 2, who then ordered for the investigation into the matter. Two Police officers, DSP Fashaki Johnson and Inspector Rebecca, were detailed to investigate the matter. They moved into action and Richard was tracked and eventually arrested in Ebonyi State. 

After investigation, the Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Tinubu Magistrates Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment if he is tried and found guilty before the Court. 

When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty. 

The prosecutor,  Supol Mono, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence. 

The Court granted him bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood. 

However, Richard was remanded in the Correctional Centre pending when he will perfect his bail conditions and the matter was adjourned after it came up on 9th May, 2022, for mention.