The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Kaduna Zonal office has arraigned one Abayomi Oke before Justice Darius Khobo of the state’s High Court sitting in Kaduna, on a one-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N7,200,000 (Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira).
Oke’s problem began when the Kaduna office of the EFCC received a petition from one Abdullahi Zubairu who alleged that sometime in February 2017, he was approached by Oke who solicited for a loan of N7,200,000 to finance a contract awarded to him by the Kaduna State Ministry of Health, for a renovation of Health Care Centre at Soba.
The complainant further alleged that he granted the loan to him with an agreement of paying back the money on March 17, 2017. He further alleged that Oke issued him a post-dated cheque of N7,200,000, but the cheque was returned unpaid upon presentation.
The count reads: “That you, Abayomi Oke, of Abdulkadir Street, Barnawa Kaduna sometimes in January 2017, in Kaduna within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court did obtain credit for yourself to the tune of N7,200,000 (Seven Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira) from one Abdullahi Zubairu A, by means of a United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) cheque dated 17th March 2017 in the sum of N7, 200,000 which when presented within three months was dishonoured on the account for which the cheque was drawn and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1) (b) and punishable under Section 1(1)(b)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques (offences) Act, CAP D11 laws of the Federation 2004.”
He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.
In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, M. Lawal, urged the court to fixed a date for hearing, and prayed the court to remand him in prison.
Counsel for the defendant, H.B. Dembo, however, informed the court that he has an application dated April 26, 2019 seeking for bail of his client and urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms.
Thereafter, Justice Khobo granted bail in the sum of N1 million and one surety in like sum, who must be a resident within Kaduna metropolis, with landed property with Certificate of Occupancy to be verified by the EFCC, Kaduna State Geographic and Information System, KADGIS and the Court registrar.
The case was adjourned to June 11, 2019 for hearing.