The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal office on Monday, February 18, 2019 arraigned an Abuja based car dealer, Obinna Clement Ogbuehi before Justice A.A. Nwobodo of the High Court of Enugu State on a two-count charge of obtaining under false pretences and criminal conversion of $25,300 (Twenty Five Thousand Three Hundred U.S Dollars).
Ogbuehi‘s offence according to the charges amount to stealing contrary to Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law of Enugu State, and Obtaining Money by False Pretences contrary to Section 1 (1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, both of which are punishable under the same laws.
According to the petitioner, the defendant was commissioned to purchase and import a 2015 Toyota Highlander Limited from the U.S.A. which was duly paid and he personally gave a delivery date of the vehicle which was never honoured after several months and that efforts to have his money refunded equally failed.
Investigations carried out by the Commission revealed that the defendant who admitted receiving the money never paid same to any dealer in the United States of America. It was also discovered that he rather, diverted it to the purchasing and shipment of two Toyota Corolla 2010 model and one Toyota Camry Sedan 2011 model which he later sold and converted the proceed to personal use.
He pleaded not guilty to the two counts preferred against him and was granted bail in the sum of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira) with one surety in like sum who must be a senior civil servant not less than grade level 12. He was also to deposit his international passport to the court and to remain in EFCC’s custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The case was adjourned to September 18, 24, 26, and October 2, 8, and 9, 2019 for hearing.