Court summons man for N72m cement fraud in Enugu
The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has summoned one crime suspect, Obiorah Anthony Emelife, for allegedly defrauding the late Atansi Obinna of seventy-two million naira over a cement business transaction.
Following a petition filed against him, Emelife was consequently arrested and arraigned on two counts bordering on fraud before Justice C.O. Ajah of the Enugu State High Court.
A thorough intelligence investigation of the defendant unveiled that he willfully diverted the money meant for the purchase of over hundred bags of cement into his personal account.
The first charge reads: “That you OBIORAH ANTHONY EMELIFE between 15th November, 2022 to 16th December, 2022 at Enugu State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the aggregate sum of Four Million, One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N4,180,000.00) property of Nweke Juliana Ugo.
It continues, “The said sum being payment for the purchase of 1,100 bags of cement and thereby committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Revised Edition, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 353 (1) of the same law.”
“That you, OBIORAH ANTHONY EMELIFE between September 2022 to December 2022 at Enugu State within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable court did commit a felony to wit: Stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the aggregate sum of Forty-Five Million Naira (N45,000,000.00), property of Obinna Atansi,
“The said sum being payment for the purchase of bags cement from customers, thereby committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Revised Edition, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 353 (1) of the same law,” the other charges reads.
Consequently, Justice Ajah ordered the detention of the convict at the Enugu Correctional Centre upon hearing on July 20, 2023.
Nevertheless, the defense attorney had pleaded for his bail.