Chinedu Ilozumba has been brought before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly cheating his business partner of N9 million. He was charged with two counts of cheating and issuing a dud cheque. According to the EFCC Counsel, Mr Musa Gwani, the defendant obtained the sum of N9 million from one Nnacheta Ikechukwu in 2011 by claiming that he owned a semi-detached duplex situated in Kukwaba District, Abuja to sell to Ikechukwu.

Gwani alleged that the defendant issued a Diamond bank cheque of N5.7 million in the name of his company, Complete Fone and Gadgets Solution Ltd to B.H.G links, dated May 19, 2013. However, when the cheque was presented on the said date, it was returned on grounds of insufficient funds. The offence is punishable under Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud related offences Act 2006 and Sections 1(1)(a) and punishable under 1(1)(b)(i) of the Dishonoured Cheques Offence Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

The defendant pleaded not guilty. His defense counsel, Mr Nnamdi Ekwem, presented an application for his client’s bail on April 26, which he had already served the prosecution counsel. Ekwem prayed for the court to grant his client bail. Justice Asmau Akanbi-Yusuf granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction. Akanbi-Yusuf also ordered that the prosecution counsel and court officials must verify the addresses of the sureties and adjourned the matter until June 16 for hearing.