Man accused by EFCC of forging N85 million contract in Enugu

One Ugwu Chekwube has been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Enugu State Zonal Command, before Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, located in Independence Layout, Enugu State.

The defendant was accused of using a ruse to cheat one Zod International Developers out of N85 million in order to obtain a contract for the building of six district hospitals in Ebonyi State, along with his accomplice, Ugo Onuaguluchi, who is now at large.

This was made public on Monday through the commission’s X account, along with the information that Chekwube was charged with four counts related to conspiracy and acquiring money under false pretenses totaling N85 million.

After receiving the specified sum, it was discovered that “the defendant neither secured the contract nor refunded the money to the petitioner.”

“That you, Ugwu Alexander Chekwube and one Ugo Sunday Onuaguluchi (At large) from 2nd November 2022 to 6th December 2022 in Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria,” was stated in one of the four charges.

“to defraud induced one Zod International Developers to deliver to you the sum of N85,000,000.00 (Eighty-five million naira), under the pretence that you will help him secure a contract for the construction of six District Hospitals in Ebonyi State,” the statement continued.

According to the statement, Chekwube “conducted an offense punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act and contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”

After the allegations were given to him and after he made his plea, the defendant entered a “not guilty” plea.

Nuradeen Ingawa, the EFCC’s attorney, asked the court to set a trial date and send the defendant to the Enugu State Correctional Center.

However, defense attorney M. C. Onwuzuruoha informed the court that a bail application was still ongoing. It was read.

Judge Umar then ruled that the defendant be held at the Enugu State Correctional Institution and postponed the case until April 17, 2024, for a hearing on the bail application.

Following the completion of an investigation, officers from the anti-graft agency detained 37 suspected online scammers in various locations throughout the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. These individuals will then be charged in court.