Mrs Stella Achalla, the Principal Secretary to Dr. Jojo Onwukwe, Managing Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, has been re-arraigned by the police.

Achalla was earlier docked before an Enugu East Chief Magistrate Court on charges bordering on obtaining money under false pretence.

This is also as a competent police source revealed that Onwukwe had been invited on three occasions to aid operatives on their investigations but he was yet to honour the invitation.

The secretary and her alleged accomplice, Mrs. Stella Egotanwa, were arraigned on two counts charge bothering on obtaining money under false pretence, an offence punishable under Section 495 (a) and Section 386 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2014.

But the police have returned to the same court, presided over by His Worship, Chioke Angela, with a fresh charge, which borders on advanced fee fraud.

The prosecutor told the court that the police were withdrawing the old charge following the fact that it was erroneous and defective.

Based on the amended charges, the two accused persons did not take their plea as Chioke adjourned ‎the matter to July 21 to rule on the opposition to the amended charges by their counsel.

News Express recalls that the police had arrested the duo following a petition from one Mrs. Agbanyim Roseline to the Enugu Police Area Command, alleging that the secretary to the medical director duped and collected over N370,000 from her for employment into the hospital.

No fewer than other 30 people, who claimed that they paid Achalla money for employment in the hospital besieged the court room.

A document obtained outside the court by our correspondent alleged that Achalla collected over N5.8 million from over 23 people, with a promise to give them employment into the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, a promise she never kept.

Meanwhile, some workers in the hospital have accused the Managing Director of clamping ‎down on them as a result of the on-going criminal trial of his secretary.

The members of staff alleged that Onwukwe has already suspended so many of them indefinitely, having accused them of backing the police in the on-going trial.

Update news