The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arraigned a couple, Gabriel Chizoba Ikpenwa and Lillian Nkechi Ikpenwa, before Justice Archibong Archibong of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Uyo, for fraud.
The couple was arraigned alongside a Cooperative Society, Easycash Multipurpose, owned by the first accused, Mr. Ikpenwa, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of N450,000.
The arraignment followed a petition by one Maria Ebong Umana on February 22, 2018, alleging that sometime in August 2013, the couple lured her into investing the sum of N450, 000 in their Cooperative Society with a promise of N67,500.00 monthly payment as interest on her investment.
For five years, however, she said the defendants neither paid her nor returned her capital.
One of the charges read, “That you, Gabriel Chizoba Ikpenwa “M”, Lillian Nkechi Ikpenwa “F” and Easycash Multipurpose Cooperative Society sometime in 2013 at Uyo, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of N450,000.00 (Four Hundred And Fifty Thousand Naira) only from one Maria Ebong Umana, under the pretence that if the said Maria Ebong Umana invested the sum of N450,000.00, she will gain interest of N67,000.00 monthly, the pretences you knew to be false, thereby committed an offence.”
The couple pleaded not guilty to the charges, upon which the prosecution counsel, N. Ukoha, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded in prison custody, while the defence counsel, C. I. Udoh, informed the court of a pending bail application for the second defendant , Mrs Ikpenwa.
Despite the prosecution counsel’s opposition to the bail application, Justice Archibong granted Mrs Ikpenwa bail in the sum of N1m with one surety in like sum, who must swear to an affidavit of means and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.
The judge also ordered that the surety must produce evidence of ownership of landed property worth the bail sum and located within the jurisdiction of the court, and must make available, letter of identification from a prominent citizen of the state, working or doing business within the jurisdiction of the court, as well as a recent passport photograph.
The court also stated that the above conditions, when produced, must be verified by the court’s Assistant Director and confirmed by the prosecution counsel before the second defendant can be released from custody.
The judge adjourned the matter till December 9 and 10, 2020, for trial and ordered that the first defendant be remanded in EFCC custody, pending the hearing of his bail application.