The Benue Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday, January 20, 2022, arraigned the duo of Francis Orterse and Tertsea Kema on separate charges before Justice A. I. Ityonyiman of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi.
Orterse was arraigned on one count of dishonestly obtaining and forging documents purportedly from the Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) and inducing members of the public to purchase the fake receipts.
The charge reads, “That you Francis Ortese sometime in April, 2021, in Makurdi within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonestly make false documents purporting same to have emanated from the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) system platform powered by Fred Oluka which you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 364 and punishable under section 365 of the penal Code Cap. 124 (Revised Edition) Laws of Benue State 2004”.
Tertsea was docked on one count charge for dishonestly inducing members of the public to purchase fake Benue State Revenue Service (BIRS) receipts.
The charge reads, “That you Tertsea Kema sometime in April, 2021, in Makurdi within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did dishonestly make false documents purporting same to have emanated from the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) system platform powered by Fred Oluka which you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 364 and punishable under section 365 of the penal Code Cap. 124 (Revised Edition) Laws of Benue State 2004”.
Both defendants pleaded “not guilty” to their separate charges.
The prosecution counsel George G. Chia Yakua prayed the court for a date to commence trial. However, counsel to the defendants, Fanen Anum prayed the court to admit his clients to bail on liberal terms.
Justice Ityonyiman thereafter admitted the defendants on bail in the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Naira each, with one surety in like sum and adjourned till March 3, 2022 for trial to commence.