The petitioner, ARC Marine & Civil Construction Company Limited alleged that sometime in September 2013 Orji, approached her in the company of one Mr. Bimbo requesting to buy a vessel, MV DOLA with registration No. IMO H. 6826793. After the negotiation, the parties agreed on the sum of N140million (One Hundred and Forty Million Naira). The two parties agreed that the vessel would be handed over to Orji’s company after the sum of N80million (Eighty Million Naira) is deposited for the vessel and issuance of post-dated cheque covering the balance sum of N60million (Sixty Million Naira). Upon the payment of the initial amount, the vessel was handed over to his company, and it was agreed if by April 1, 2014 he fails to pay the balance the vessel should be returned. However, on presentation of Orji’s cheque in bank, it was dishonoured on the grounds of insufficient funds. Efforts made to recover the vessel or money proved abortive. One of the counts reads: “That you, Valentine Orji being the Managing Director of NAXPRO ENERGY AND SHIPPING COMPANY LTD on or about the 1st day of December, 2013 at Warri, within the Judicial Division of this Court did obtain credit for yourself by issuing a First Bank of Nigeria Plc Cheque No: 06833503 in the sum of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) belonging to NAXPRO ENERGY AND SHIPPING COMPANY LTD in favour of Arc Marine and Civil Contractors Ltd which cheque when presented for payment within three months of issuance, was dishonoured on the grounds of insufficient funds standing to your credit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act, CAP. D11 VOL5 LAWS of the Federation of Nigeria Revised Edition 2007.” He pleaded not guilty to the charge. In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, M. T. Iko, urged the court to fix a date to commence trial. However, the defence counsel, Erikefe prayed the court to grant the accused person bail. Justice Onojovwo, granted the accused person bail in the sum of N5million (Five Million Naira), and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident within Warri or Effurun jurisdiction with a landed property to be verified by the bailiff of the court. The judge ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail. The matter was adjourned to March 22, 2016 for trial to commence. ************************************************** EFCC Docks One for Fraud The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 18, 2016 arraigned one Francis A. Igo before Justice S. K Idrisu of the Federal High Court sitting in Kano on a four-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence. Igo’s arrest and subsequent arraignment followed a petition by one Dr. Aliero Shehu Usman of Ministry of Finance, Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. The petitioner alleged that sometime in October, 2012 he got a call from one Engr. Yusuf who claimed to be an employee of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, Jalingo, that he had been awarded a contract to supply some solar kit Model 10a to National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), Abuja. According to Usman, Igo introduced him to one Professor Williams, who claimed to be the Director, Finance and Supply of NIPP where he was told to register with a certain amount before he could get the supply. The petitioner alleged that after paying the required amount into the account supplied by the accused, he could still not deliver on his promises. Igo and his accomplice, who operate as syndicate, were alleged to have in a similar fashion defrauded several unsuspecting victims of their hard earned income. One of the counts reads: “That you, Francis A. Igo, Engr Yusuf (at large), Prof Williams (at Large) and Bernand Omale (at Large), sometime in November, 2012 within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of N250,000.00 (Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand naira only) through the GTBank Plc. Account N0. 0122206505 belonging to Francis A. Igo from Said Abdullahi under the false presence that you work with the National Integrated Power Project and you wanted him to supply some RING to the said project which presence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.” The accused person pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. In view of his plea, counsel to EFCC, Salihu Sani asked the court for a date to commence trial and also to remand the accused person in prison custody. Jusdtice Idrisu ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned toMarch 8, 2016 for hearing on the bail application and commencement of trial. Wilson Uwujaren Head, Media & Publicity 18th February, 2016.]]>