The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal office, on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 arraigned an oil marketer, Udeme Obio Efiong, before Justice M.L. Abubakar of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on one-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretense.
The lone count reads: “That you Udeme Obio Efiong, trading under the name Ambi Petroleum Nigeria Limited on or about the 1st of March, 2016 at Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Two Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Five Thousand, Naira (N2, 395,000) from Daniel Eromosele, under the pretense that the money will be used to buy petroleum product, a pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, Alao Rasheedat, prayed the court for a trial date and to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
However, defence counsel, U. Nwuju moved an oral application for the bail of the defendant. The application was opposed by the prosecution on the ground that it was not in writing.
Justice Abubakar remanded the defendant in EFCC custody and adjourned the matter till October 26, 2020, for consideration of bail application and commencement of trial.
Efiong ran into trouble when a petitioner: Danaiel Eromosele alleged that the defendant reneged on a agreement to share profit with him on a deal to purchase of premium motor spirit from the Refinery at Eleme which he funded, nor refund the N2,395,000( Two Million, Three Hundred and Ninety Five Million) that he paid to him.