By CHRISTIAN OGBONNA

Two men, Ugwu Peter, 36 and Itodo Friday, 41, on Thursday, appeared before an Abakaliki Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defrauding a company of N9.68 billion.

The duo, whose residential addresses were not provided, are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and advanced fee fraud.

The pleas of the defendants were not taken by the court when the matter was presented.

The Prosecutor, ASP Lilian Aliede, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on May 12, 2024 at Hope Payment Service Bank Server, Abakaliki, Ebonyi capital.

Aliede alleged that on the aforementioned date, the defendants with an intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N204,000 from Hope Payment Service Bank Server.

She also alleged that the defendants also on May 13, 2024, and May 15 same year, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N54.1 million and N1billion respectfully from the same source.

“Also on June 28, 2024, they with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N2.26 billion also from Hope Payment Service Bank Serve.

“On July 15, 2024, and July 24, the same year they also with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N5 billion and N1billion respectively from the same source,” the prosecutor said.

Aliede noted that the defendants committed an offence punishable under section 1 (3) of the advanced fee fraud and other fraud related offences Act 2006, Laws of Federation of Nigeria.

The Defence Counsel, D. I. Njoku made a bail application for the defendants.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Linda Ogodo, rejected the bail application of the defendants.

She ordered that they be remanded in the Federal Correctional Centre, Abakaliki.

The magistrate noted that the court lacked jurisdiction to handle the matter.

She directed that the case files be forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

She therefore adjourned the matter until July 11. (NAN)