Police arraign clearing agent for alleged fraud

The Force Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (Force CIID Annex) Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, yesterday, arraigned a clearing and forwarding agent, Ifeanyi Ezenwabachili, before a Federal High Court, Lagos for alleged conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.
     
Ezenwabachili was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo for  allegedly obtaining  a total sum of N27, 920 million, under the pretence of clearing 10  40ft container-load of spare parts, through one Emeka Okoli Canice’s account in one of the new generation banks.
   
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Morufu Animashaun told the court that the defendant and others now at large, committed the offences sometime in 2021.
  

Also, Section 383 of the Criminal Code Act Cap.C38, Laws of Federation 2004 and punishable under Section 390 of same Criminal Code Act Cap.C38 Laws of Federation 2004.
 
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
   
Following his plea, the prosecutor prayed the court for a trial date, while urging the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till the determination of the charge.
  
But the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Abdullahi  Dania, while moving the defendant’s bail application, urged the court to grant him bail in liberal terms.
  
Dania pleaded with the court to release the defendant to him on  grounds of ill-health, so that he could have adequate medical attention.
    
In his ruling, Justice Oweibo  granted the defendant bail in the sum N5 million with one surety in like sum.
 
The judge ordered that the surety must be a land owner with title documents within the court’s jurisdiction and that the surety must depose to an affidavit of means.
 
The judge also released the defendant to his counsel for the period of two weeks, after which he will be remanded in NCoS’ custody, if he failed to meet up with the bail terms.