MICHAEL AKINOLA
A former senior banker with Polaris Bank, Mrs. Ugochi Dike and her husband, Architect Emmanuel Dike, have been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital for allegedly defrauding a company, Clip Nigeria Ltd, to the tune of 500 million Naira under false pretence.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the couple obtained the money under the guise of investing in contracts execution with NNPC, SPDC and other IOCs, with clear terms of return on investments to Clip Nigeria Ltd.
However, after waiting for them to return the money as they had agreed in vain, the matter was reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly obtaining the money under false pretence.
The company alleged that after a period of no returns, they realised they had been defrauded. They then asked for a refund of the principal money from Mrs. Ugochi Dike.
Unable to refund the money, Mrs. Dike claimed that her husband, Arch. Emmanuel Dike, who is an elder in Seventh Day Adventist Church, invested the money into his Cryptocurrency trading business and it failed.
The couple was then charged before the Court with suit number FHC/PH/458C/23 FRN vs UGOCHI EZIAKU DIKE & ORS, and were brought to Court from the custody of the EFCC on a five count charge of Conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 8(a) of Advance Free Fraud and other fraud-related offenses Act, 2006 punishable under section 1(3).
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty.
The Presiding Judge, Justice P.I. Ajoku, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N 1 million each to the couple with sureties in like sum.
The Court also directed that the sureties must be up to a Grade Level 12 civil servant in Rivers State and should present a letter of employment and certificate of occupancy.
The Court affirmed that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the Court, produce passport photographs and admonish the lawyer to ensure his clients appear in Court during the next sitting.
The matter was adjourned till 30th January, 2024, for trial while the defendants were remanded in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre pending when they will meet their bail conditions.