The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has arraigned an alleged fake Bureau De Change operator, Okeke Ejike Callistus, before the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha over an alleged N78.2 million fraud.
The defendant was arraigned by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC before Justice D.A. Onyefulu on a 10-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing involving N78,295,000.
According to the EFCC, Callistus, who allegedly operated under the business name Nwachimereze Amen Resources, fraudulently converted millions of naira belonging to one Ezeugwu Leonard Chinedu, owner of Leatez Enterprises, for personal use.
One of the charges alleged that the defendant fraudulently converted N62.7 million entrusted to him on May 2, 2024, while another charge accused him of diverting an additional N15.5 million between May 3 and May 7, 2024.
The anti-graft agency stated that the offences contravene provisions of the Criminal Code Law of Anambra State.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges when they were read before the court.
Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Rotimi Enitan Ajobiewe, prayed the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, defence counsel, Hypolite Ohaneche, informed the court of a pending bail application and urged the court to grant the defendant bail.
The EFCC opposed the application, arguing that the defendant was likely to jump bail, claiming he had previously violated bail conditions granted by the commission.
After listening to both parties, Justice Onyefulu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties.
The court ruled that one of the sureties must possess a valid tax clearance certificate, while both sureties must be related to the defendant, reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and possess valid National Identification Numbers.
According to the EFCC, the defendant was arrested following a petition by Ezeugwu, who alleged that he handed over N78.2 million to Callistus for transfer to a business partner in China.
Investigators alleged that instead of remitting the funds, the defendant transferred only part of the money and allegedly issued fake telex copies purportedly from “ABA Bank of Cambodia” for the outstanding balance.
The commission said the documents were later discovered to be fake when presented to the recipient in China.
The EFCC further disclosed that during investigations, the defendant admitted receiving the funds and confessed to diverting part of the money for personal use.