The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Ojone Ogwu, a Front Desk Officer with the Cable African Network Television, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before Justice F. O. G Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, on a 22-count charge bordering on stealing and obtaining money by false presence to the tune of N14,319,875.00.

The petitioner alleged that Ogwu issued invoices and receipts for customers’ subscriptions for his Cable Television to the tune of N20,929,655.00k but could not account for the sum of N14,319,875.00k.

Count one of the charge read: “That you Ojone Ogwu sometime in the month of October, 2016, at No. 4 Aba Road, Rumuogba Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did steal the sum of One Million, Three Hundred and Forty Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Fifty Naira only (N1,349,250.00) property of Multimesh Broadcasting Company Ltd and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 383 (2) (c) of the Criminal Code Act Cap. C 38 Revised Edition (Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 390 (8) (b) of the same Act read together with Section 1 (1) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act Cap. B 3 Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007.”

Another count read: “That you 0jone Ogwu sometime in the month of December, 2016, at No. 4 Aba Road, Rumuogba Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did steal the sum of Two Million, One Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Ten Naira only (N2,197,610.00) property of Multimesh Broadcasting Company Ltd and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 383 (2) (c) of the Criminal Code Act Cap. C 38 Revised Edition (Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under 390 (8) (b) of the same Act read together with Section 1 (1) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of Debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act Cap. B 3 Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his pleas, prosecution counsel, E. K Esin-out, asked the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and that the defendant be remanded in prison custody. However, counsel to the defendant, N. S Nsema, told the court that she had filed a bail application for her client and served same on the prosecution. She urged the court to grant her prayers. Esin-otu acknowledged her application but said that he needed time to respond.

Justice Ogunbanjo adjourned the case to May 7, 2018 for bail hearing, and 26, 27, and 28 June, 2018 for trial. She ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of his bail.

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