EFCC Arraigns School Proprietor for N40m Dud Cheque

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The Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Tuesday arraigned one Dr George Odabi along with his company, Deo Gratias International School Limited, Abuja before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on a 3- count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque and breach of trust.

The accused, who is the managing director of Deo Gratias International School Limited Abuja, is said to have sometime in September, 2013 received a forty million, one hundred thousand naira (N40, 100,000.00) loan from one Mrs. Egbunola Ogungbesan for the renovation of his school but reneged on his promise to pay back.

The accused is alleged to have issued seven post dated Zenith Bank cheques amounting to twenty seven million naira as part payment of the loan which were dishonoured upon presentation, due to insufficient funds in his account.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Dr George Odabi, being the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Deo Gratias International School Limited sometime in September, 2013 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, with knowledge that you had insufficient funds in your account, issued to one Egbunola Ogungbesan a Zenith Bank cheque dated 30th September,2013 with account name Deo Gratias International Limited for the sum of N9, 000, 000 (Nine Million Naira) which said cheque when presented for payment within three months of issuance was dishonoured due to insufficient funds in your account and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(1)(b)(i)of the Dishonoured Cheques Offences Cap D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria Act 2007.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. Upon the plea of the accused, prosecuting counsel, Hussaina Gambo asked the court to fix a date for trial.

However, the defence counsel, Joe Onyekwere prayed the court to grant the accused person bail as the offence is bailable.

Justice Kekemeke granted the accused bail in the sum of ten million naira (N10, 000,000) and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a level 15 officer .

The case was later adjourned to May 8, 2014 for trial.