Two Remanded In Prison For 419

A Port Harcourt chief magistrate court has remanded two accused persons in prison custody for alleged advanced fee fraud offences popularly called 419.

The accused persons, Prince Chigbo Anozie, 31, and Okafor Amaka, 36 are standing trial on a four count charge of advanced fraud, Obtaining by trick and issuance of a dud cheque before Chief Magistrate Emmanuel Woke.

The prosecuting police officer, inspector Godwin Nwinam told the court that the accused persons on the August 31, 2009 at No 13 Ada George Road, port Harcourt in the port Harcourt magisterial District did defraud the sum of Four million, one Hundred and Eighty two thousand, four hundred and six Naira (N 4,182,406.00) FROM ONE MIS Theresa Efobi under a false pretence to execute a contract awarded to their company.

The prosecutor also alleged that the accused persons on the same date and place issued two dud cheques of First Bank of Nigeria PLC with number P060431996 for the sum of two million, seven hundred and fifty thousand, eight hundred Naira and a Spring Bank PLC cheque with Number 01454963 for the sum of four million, one hundred and eighty two thousand, four hundred and six Naira, twenty five Kobo to one Theresa Efobi.

The police prosecutor averred that the accused person was aware that there was no sufficient fund standing to their credit to section 8(a), 1 (1) (a), AND (!). (b) (!) PUNISHABLE UNDER SECTION 1 (3) OF THE Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud related offences Act Cap A6 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007 and section 1 (!) (b) (I) of the dishonoured cheque offences Act cap DII laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

The accused persons did not take any plea against the charges brought against them.

The presiding chief magistrate, Emmanuel Woke, while remanding the accused persons in prison custody directed that their criminal case file be forwarded to the DPP for legal advice and later adjourned the matter to 8 – 10 -2012 for mention.