Press Release
The Economics and Financial Crimes Commission,
EFCC, on Thursday, February 19, 2015 arraigned one Chief Felix Ogbebor before
Justice B. O. Quadri of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, on 8-count
charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and obtaining money by false pretence
to the tune of Seventy Seven Million Naira (N77, 000, 0000.00).
The accused allegedly obtained the sum of
Seventy Seven Million Naira from the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel),
Stadium Road branch, Port Harcourt for twelve and half plots of land situate at
Uyo Street, Rumumasi, Port Harcourt.
He allegedly presented several forged
documents to support the claim of ownership of the said land. But the
unsuspecting church which wanted the land to build its new worship centre paid
the sum of Seventy Seven Million Naira (N77,000,000.000) to the accused.
However, when they attempted to take possession
of the land, they were stopped. One Professor Ebi Awotua Efebo came with
documents, showing that the land in question belongs to him. The documents
showed that he bought the land from one Chief Nelson Chukwu as far as 1990.
One of the counts read, “that you Chief Felix
Ogbebor sometime in March, 2011 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of
this honourable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain the sum of Seventy
Seven Million Naira (N77,000,000.00) only from the registered trustees of Living
Church (Winners Chapel, Stadium Road, Port Harcourt) being payment made to you
as owner of the piece of land lying and situate along Uyo street (Ohia Mini
Apu), Rumuomasi, Obio Akpo Local Government Area of Rivers State, measuring an
area of 4211.769sq.m, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an
offence contrary to section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud
Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
He, however, pleaded not guilty .
In view of the plea of the defendant, the
prosecuting counsel, J.N Dogonyaro asked for a trial date and prayed the court
to remand the accused in the EFCC custody. But defence counsel, R.E. Wanogho
formally presented a bail application and urged the court to grant the accused
bail.
Justice Quadri adjourned the matter to
February 24, 2015 for ruling on bail application and remanded the accused in
EFCC custody.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
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