The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned Rhas Nigeria Limited and its director, Liwa Sarirddine, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over the alleged issuance of a ₦10 million dishonoured cheque.

The defendants were arraigned before Justice A.H. Musa on a one-count charge filed by the Abuja Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft commission.

The EFCC alleged that the company and its director obtained credit in the sum of ₦10 million from Ismail and Partners through a cheque which was subsequently returned unpaid because there were insufficient funds in the account on which it was drawn.

According to the charge, the alleged transaction occurred in Abuja sometime in 2020.

The commission alleged that the cheque, dated October 15, 2020, was presented for payment within three months of its issuance but was dishonoured and returned on the ground that the account lacked sufficient credit.

The charge reads: “That you, Rhas Nigeria Limited, and Liwa Sarirddine, being the director of the said Rhas Nigeria Limited, sometime in 2020 in Abuja within the judicial division of this Honourable Court, did obtain credit from Ismail and Partners in the sum of ₦10,000,000 by means of a cheque dated October 15, 2020, which when presented for payment within three months of the date, was dishonoured and returned on the ground that there was no sufficient credit standing in the account for which the cheque was drawn.”

The EFCC said the alleged conduct was contrary to Section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap. D11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the relevant provisions of the Act.

Sarirddine pleaded not guilty to the charge on behalf of himself and the company.

Following the plea, prosecuting counsel Mariya U. Shariff asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the commencement of proceedings.

Defence counsel, however, moved an application seeking Sarirddine’s release on bail.

The prosecution did not oppose the bail application.

After hearing the parties, Justice Musa granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦5 million with two sureties in the same amount.

The judge ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant of at least Grade Level 10.

Both sureties were also directed to depose to affidavits, which must be verified by the court registrar before the bail conditions would be considered fulfilled.

The defendants remain presumed innocent until the charge is proved beyond reasonable doubt.

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