The South East Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 opened a new vista in its prosecutorial annals when it deployed technology in the prosecution of its case by calling a prosecution witness living in the United States of America, Obu Nnamdi Patrick via Skype in a case of Conspiracy, Obtaining Under False Pretences and Impersonation to the tune of N12,800,200 (Twelve Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Two Hundred Naira) against Amobi Alukwu and his wife, Helen Alukwu which was brought before Justice N.I. Buba of the Federal High Court Enugu.
Alukwu, who was a brother in-law of the complainant was accused of obtaining the said sums by first claiming that his brother in-law, Obu Nnamdi Patrick was dead and that his wife, Helen who is the sister to the complainant, was the complainantโs daughter all in a bid to claim compensation on two plots of land at Ifo Layout, Abakpa Nike Enugu from Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd/NIPP, whose high tension wire passed through the lands.
Investigation also revealed that when actual payment was to be made and in order to lay credence to being the bonafide beneficiary, Alukwu knowing that the properties was captured in the name of its true owner, Obu Nnamdi Patrick, further presented a sworn affidavit of change of name in his own name as being the same person as the complainant and even made his staff to confirm the change of name.
In his evidence via Skype, the complainant stated he was the rightful owner of the land and as could be seen, he is alive not deceased as was purportedly reported by the complainant.
He equally said that he never gave the defendant the power of attorney and deed of assignment of the land stating that Alukwu was his in-law being a brother to his (Patrickโs) wife.
Later in his testimony, the Investigating officer, Collins Iheonunekwu gave a cursory insight into the findings of the Commission stating that the defendant lied in court to get a sworn affidavit claiming the same name as the complainant to get compensation from George Nzei and Co, the company contracted by NDPHC/NIPP to evaluate and pay compensation to beneficiaries.
The case has been adjourned to April 15, 2019 for continuation of trial.
