Awka – A middle-aged man, Mr. Olisa Onuchukwu has been arraigned before Justice B. O. Quadri of Federal High Court 2, Awka, Anambra state for issuing a commercial bank cheque for a sum of N1.3 million, which the bank could not honour, because he did not have such amount in his account with the bank.
Onuchukwu was also facing charges for allegedly obtaining the sum of N1,350,000 from one Mr. Ogu Iheanacho Okwudili, with a promise to secure a VISA for the latter, to enable him travel abroad and to secure an European football club for him.
The two-count charges marked charge No. FHC/AWK/C/48/2020 between Inspector General of Police and Olisa Onuchukwu read, “That you, Olisa Onuchukwu’m’ between July 2017 and October 2017 at Awka within the Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, Awka did by false pretences and with intent to defraud, obtain from Ogu Ifeanacho Okwudili the sum of One Million, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N1,350,000) which was paid into the Zenith Bank Account No: 2085366540 by pretending that you will use the said amount to procure traveling VISA for one Ogu Iheanacho Okwudili to enable him travel abroad and to secure an European club side for a professional football which you knew to be false and there is no truth in it and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a)and punishable under section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006.”
It read further; “That you Olisa Onuchukwu’m’ on the 31st day of August, 2019 at Awka within the aforementioned judicial Division did issue ECO Bank cheque number 88902769, valued at One Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira was presented to the bank for payment (but) it was dishonoured on the grounds that no funds or insufficient funds were standing to your credit and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 1(1)(a)(I) of the dishonoured cheques (Offences) Act Cap D11 LFN 2004.”
The accused, however pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge and was later granted bail by the Presiding Judge, Justice Quadri.
The judge later adjourned the matter to February 17, 2021 for further hearing.
Counsels to both parties could not speak with TNC correspondent after the session due to other court engagements.
