EFCC arraigns couple over alleged N500m fraud

A couple, Emmanuel Dike and Ugochi Eziaku Dike, have been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's Port Harcourt Zonal Command for allegedly engaging in a N500 million investment scam.

This was revealed in a statement that the EFCC's official X handle published on Thursday night.

The statement claims that on Wednesday, November 29, the EFCC arraigned the couple and their business, Dike & Phil Associates Ltd., on five counts related to conspiracy, receiving money under false pretences, and criminal conversion of funds for personal use.

One of the charges read, “That you Ugochi Eziaku Dike, Emmanuel Dike, Dike & Phil Associates Ltd; Kelechi Chigozirim Ahiawe (still at large), and Ampletech Integrated Services Ltd, sometime between the 24th day of August, 2020 and 15th day of February, 2021, at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud obtained the sum of Five Hundred Million Naira only from one Captain Chukwuemeka Stanley Ikeri, a Nigerian citizen and his company- Clipboard Office Superstores Limited, under the pretext that it was for investment purposes that will yield him 10% interest, which you all claimed to have the capability to deliver to him, which pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

The couple entered a not guilty plea to the charges that were read to them, according to the statement.

Dr. B. Ubi, the prosecution's attorney, asked the court for a trial date in light of the defendants' pleas, and J. C. Okeke, the defendants' attorney, informed the court of his request for the first and second defendants' bail. He begged the judge to release the accused so they could get ready for trial.

The defendants were granted bail by Justice Ajoku in the amount of one million Naira apiece, along with two sureties in the same amount.

In order to allow time for the completion of their bail conditions, the defendants were placed under remand in the Port Harcourt Correctional Service. The trial was postponed until January 30, 2024.

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