The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought Simon Udeani and his wife, Dorcas, before Justice M.G. Umar of the Federal High Court in Enugu.
As detailed in a statement released on the EFCC’s official X handle on Tuesday, the couple faced a three-count charge related to an alleged land fraud, involving the false acquisition of N2,750,000.
Upon their arraignment, the couple pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecuting counsel, Nurudeen Ingawa, sought a trial date, while the defense counsel, E.C. Nwauba Esq, applied for their bail. Justice Umar granted them bail in the sum of N5 million each, with one surety each in like sum. The case was adjourned till February 6, 2024.
One of the charges against the Udeanis read, “That you Udeani Simon Sunday and Udeani Dorcas Amaka, between July 10, 2019 and December 19, 2019 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, induced one Onugu Angela Chinyere to deliver to you the sum of N2.7m under the pretence that you would sell to her a plot of land behind Ebenezer Anglican Church, Ala-Uguaji along Enugu/Port Harcourt Road, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same act.”
In another case, Johnson Aniekwe appeared before Justice Cyprian Ajah of the Enugu State High Court, facing three-count charges for allegedly obtaining N9,170,000 through false pretenses, forgery, and impersonation.
Aniekwe pleaded not guilty, prompting the prosecuting counsel, Nurudeen Ingawa, to request a trial date. The defense counsel, A.G. Anyigo, appealed for bail for the defendant, which was granted by Justice Ajah. The case was adjourned till March 7, 2024.