EFCC arraigns professor over N56m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Tuesday, October 13, 2015 arraigned Professor Brimmy Asekhruagbon Uzimeghan Olaghere, before Justice U.P Kekemeke of the FCT High Court sitting in Apo, on a 2-count charge, bordering on obtaining goods and cars by false pretence.

Olaghere was alleged to have defrauded Okwosu Chinedu and Joyjoe Global Link Limited to the tune of N56,032,000.

Count one reads: “That you Brimmy Asekhruagbon Uzimeghan Olaghere sometime in July 2014 in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did, with intent to defraud, obtained various goods worth Twenty Million Two Hundred and Thirty Two Thousand Naira Only from Okwosu Chinedu under false pretence that the said goods were meant for United Africa States which 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 1 (3) of the same Act.”

Count two reads: “That you Brimmy Asekharuagbon Uzimeghan Olaghere sometime in July 2014 at Abuja in the Abuja Judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory did, with intent to defraud, obtained eight cars/goods worth the sum of Thirty Five Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Naira Only from Joyjoe Global Link Limited under false pretence that the said cars were meant for United African Diaspora States, United African States, New Africa’s World Bank and the Federated United African States which 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 1 (3) of the same Act.”

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

Following his plea, counsel to EFCC, Onjefu Obe, asked the court for a trial date to present his witnesses.

Defence counsel, Ochumba Kingsley, however, urged the court to admit his client to bail, assuring that the accused person will be available to face his trial.

Justice Kekemeke, thereafter, admitted the accused person to bail in the sum of N20 million and two sureties in like sum, the sureties must be senior civil servants and have landed property in FCT Abuja.

The case was adjourned to October 26, 2015 for commencement of trial.