Court’s verdict

Two men, Eze Okonkwo and Okechukwu Ariguzo on Thursday appeared before a Federal High Court in Lagos, for allegedly swindling an Indian, Mr Yaser De Zhkam, of 13,000 dollars.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged the duo on five counts, bordering on obtaining money by false pretence.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the anti-graft agency, the accused committed the offence between October and November 2016.

The agency said that the two men fraudulently obtained the money from the foreigner, with a promise to help him facilitate registration of some Indian products with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The accused were alleged to have forged a NAFDAC letter, dated June 9, 2016 with caption: “Notification of Product Approval,” to facilitate the alleged fraud.

They were also said to have allegedly forged a NAFDAC’s certificate of registration numbered 01-8097, falsely representing that it emanated from the office of the director-general of NAFDAC.

They were also accused of forging another letter, dated Oct.18, 2016 and captioned, “Re: Confirmation of File Number NAFDAC/ENU/DRH, APS/092276/016 for Immediate Issuance of NAFDAC Certificate.”

According to the EFCC, they made a false representation that the letter was purportedly signed by one Mrs Yetunde Oni as the Executive Director, NAFDAC.

The EFCC said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

The offence also violates the provisions of Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act Cap 938 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The trial Judge, Justice Mohammed Aikawa, subsequently, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1 million each with one surety each in like sum.

Aikawa said that the surety must either be a Lagos resident with a landed property or a civil servant in either the employment of the federal or state government.

The judge said that the accused must sign an undertaking that they would not delay the trial of the case.

He adjourned until Nov. 28 for commencement of trial.‎ NAN)