EFCC Arraigns Two for N1.8m Job Scam
Adetokunbo Fakeye
The duo of Bernard Chukwuma Muoghalu and Anyiam Isabella have been docked before Justice V. N. Agbata of the Anambra State High Court, Onitsha, on a 12-count charge of obtaining money under false pretence.
The accused who are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, allegedly conspired and obtained various sums of money totalling N1,800,000.00 (one million, eight hundred thousand naira) from some job seekers with promise of helping them to secure jobs with the Onitsha North Local Government Council.
A release from the office of EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren stated that after the accused had collected money from the victims, they issued fake employment letters to the applicants and asked them to report for work, assuring that their names were already on the payroll.
The bubble according to the release bursted when, after several months of working without pay, the job seekers discovered they had been duped.
Count two of the charge against the duo reads: “Bernard Sunday Chukwuma Muoghalu and Anyiam Isabella sometimes in November 2011 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of the Anambra State High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N320, 000.00 (three hundred and twenty thousand naira) from Mr. Okey Obiagwu under the false pretence that you have secured a job for Mrs. Okey Okeke Anuri Obiagwu at Onitsha North Local Government Council, which pretence you knew to be false and you thereby committed an offence”.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges and were granted bail in the sum N500, 000.00 (five hundred thousand naira) each and a surety in like sum.
The sureties, who must reside within the jurisdiction of court, are to present to court, two passport photographs and evidence of tax payment for the past three years.
The matter was adjourned to July 1, 2014 for trial.
