The Benin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 arraigned Odobor Chukwunalu before Justice Okon.Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State.

Chukwunalu was arraigned on a two-count charge for allegedly obtaining the sum of Two Million Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N2,700,000) only under false pretence.

One of the counts reads: “that you Odobor Chukwunalu on or about 24th day of May, 2019 in Warri, Delta State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Two Million Seven Hundred Thousand Naira Only (N2,700,000 ) from Ese Oniovosa Festus which was paid into account number: 6012022195 domiciled at Keystone Bank Plc operated by you with the false pretense that you have a 100KVA transformer to supply to him which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act , 2006 and punishable under section I (3) of the same Act”.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

In view of the plea of the defendant, the prosecution counsel Isa .K. Agwai prayed the court for a trial date. However, counsel to the defendant, Lawrence. Ayewa pleaded with the court to grant the defendant bail, adding that the defendant has been on EFCC’s administrative bail.

Justice Abang granted the defendant bail in the sum of N4million with one surety who must be resident within the jurisdiction of the court and possess a landed property with Certificate of Occupancy.

Justice Abang ordered that the defendant be remanded in Nigerian Correctional Service’s custody, pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions, and adjourned the matter till July 29, 2021, for trial.