The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday arraigned one Mr. Chris Onyebuchi Ijeoma alongside his company, Tellers International Limited before Justice I.B. Gafai of the Federal High Court, Awka, Anambra, on a two-count charge of obtaining money under false pretense and stealing the sum of N10, 000,000 belonging to the Head Pastor and General Overseer of a Pentecostal church in the city.
EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, told Africa Prime News that the ordeal of Ijeoma, who is an Onitsha based businessman, started after a petition was written to the commission alleging that sometime in 2014, he approached the complainant (General Overseer) with a business proposal to help raise funds to finance the importation of insecticide/ pest sprayer from the USA, to the tune of N10m, with a promise to pay back within three months after selling the products, but failed to keep to the agreement.
However, the suspect pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Defence counsel, C.M. Obijagwam thereafter applied orally for his client’s bail but was denied by Justice Gafai, stating that he had to apply formally.
Justice Gafai further said, the suspect be remanded in prison custody pending the hearing of the bail application.
The case has been adjourned to June 6 and 8, 2017.