A Technical Assistant (TA) to Ebonyi State Governor, Precious Orji Nnachi, and two others were on Thursday arraigned by the Department of States Service (DSS) over an alleged attempt to defraud Ebonyi State Government of the sum of N3.6 billion (USD10,000,000.00).
The suspects were arraigned at a Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki on a six-count charge bothering on felony, attempt to defraud, amongst others, Pilot News gathered.
They allegedly committed the offence at Umunaga village, Uburu community, in Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state, on December 30, 2019.
The DSS Prosecutor, C.P. Njoku, told the court that the offense was punishable under sections 516A (a), 509 and 484 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009. The charge read:
“That you Precious Orji Nnachi, Obinna Agummuo and Chuks Ajunwa, on the 30th day of December, 2019, at Umunaga Uburu in the Ohaozara Local Government Area, under the jurisdiction of Abakaliki Magisterial District, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Attempt to defraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 516A (a) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, of Nigeria, 2009.”
“That you Precious Orji Nnachi, Obinna Agummuo and Chuks Ajunwa, on the the 30th day of December, 2019, at Umunaga Uburu in Ohaozara LGA, under Abakaliki Magisterial District attempted to defraud the Government of Ebonyi State of the sum of Ten Million Dollars (USD10,000,000.00), amounting to Three Billion Six Hundred Million Naira (N3,600,000,000.00) through a claim which you had no intention or capacity to effect and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 509 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33., Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”
“That you Precious Orji Nnachi, being a Technical Assistant to the Governor of Ebonyi State, on the 30th day of December, 2019, at Umunaga Uburu, in Ohaozara LGA, under Abakaliki Magisterial District, corruptly attempted to obtain from the Government of Ebonyi State of the sum of Twenty Five Million Dollars (USD25,000,000.00), as a reward and thereby committed an offense contrary to section 494 (1)(a) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”
The Chief Magistrate, Nnenna Onuoha, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500 million each, with three sureties in like sum.
She said the sureties must have properties worth N500 million and must present Certificate-of-Occupancy of the said properties, to the court.
The matter was adjourned till February 5, 2020, for hearing.
It may be recalled that Umahi had while receiving people who came to pay him homage at his country home, Uburu, Ohoazara local government area during the yuletide, narrated his experience with the suspects.
♦ Photo inset: Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State
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