From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has remanded husband and wife, Mr. Emmanuel Dike and Mrs. Ugochi Dike, in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre over alleged involvement in N500 million fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) arraigned the couple before Justice Patricia Ajoku.
The accused persons are facing five counts of conspiracy and fraud in Suit Number FHC/PH/458c/ 2023.
When the matter was mentioned in court yesterday, the couple separately pleaded not guilty to the charge filed by the federal government through EFCC.
The charge stated that the accused persons allegedly defrauded a company, Clipboard Office Superstores Limited, of N500 million, with the pretence that it (N500 million) was for investment purposes that would yield the company 10 percent 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 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 mentioned of the matter, the defence counsel, Jerome Okeke, told the court that he had filed an 11-paragraph affidavit to support his bail application.
He pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail, assuring that they would be present at all sitting and will not jump bail.
But, the prosecution counsel, Ben Ubi, who also filed 18 paragraphs affidavit to counter the bail application, told the court to refuse the bail plea.
Reacting on the arguments on the bail application, the trial Judge, Justice Ajoku, granted the bail application by the defence counsel.
Justice Ajoku granted bail of N1million each to the couple. That the surety must be up to grade level 12 Civil servant in Rivers state, 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 admonished 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 perfect their bail conditions.