EFCC Arraigns Man For N15 million Dud Cheque
Olatomiwa Ajigi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, arraigned Dr. Philip Mark and his company Solution Mark Nigeria Limited before Justice S. H. Aprioku of the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, on a 3-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque to the tune of Fifteen Million Naira (N15, 000, 000.00).
The petitioner alleged that Dr. Philip Mark allegedly presented a cheque of Fifteen million naira (N15,000,000.00) for payment which on presentation at the bank was dishonoured due to insufficient funds.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.
Count one read: “that you Dr. Philip Mark on or about the 7th day of October, 2013 at Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of the High Court of Rivers State did fraudulently issue a Diamond Bank Plc Cheque No. 39894233 of Solution Mark Nigeria Ltd, dated 7th day of October 2013 in the sum of Five Million Naira (N5,000,000.00) in favour of one Mr. Vatec Services Ltd, which was to settle your financial obligation with him in the sum of Fifteen Million Naira (N15,000,000.00) only, and when the said cheque was presented for payment, it was dishonored due to insufficient funds standing to your credit and thereby committee d an offence of Issuance of Dishonored Cheques contrary to section 1 (1) (b) (i) & (ii) of the Dishonored Cheques (Offences) Act, CAP. D11 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation) 2007.
In view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, M. T. Iko, urged the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial.
However, the defence counsel, O.I. Briggs, urged the court to grant his client bail as the offence was bailable.
Justice Aprioku granted the accused person bail in the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira, (N500, 000.00) and two sureties in the like sum. One of the sureties must own a landed property within the jurisdiction of the court while the second surety must be a civil servant, working with the state or Federal civil service.
The matter was adjourned to 9 and 10 February, 2017 for trial. The defendant is to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.