The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday 9th January, 2013 arraigned two suspects: Otoko Micha Owon and Wokoma Augustine before Justice Lambo Akanbi, of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on a six count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
When the charge was read to them, the two accused persons pleaded not guilty. The defense counsel, B.E Nwantah immediately presented an oral application, urging the court to admit the accused persons to bail but the prosecuting counsel, Romiah O.E Ikhanaede opposed the application on the grounds that suspects cannot be admitted to bail without a formal application.
The presiding judge agreed with the prosecuting counsel and ordered that a formal bail application be presented before the court for consideration.
Some of the charge reads in part, “that you Otoko Micha Owen (alias Maurice Elibe), Wokoma Augustine ‘m’ and others now at large on or about the 22nd day of June in Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: forgery and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap M17 of the Revised Edition ( Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2007 and punishable under Section 1(2) of the same Act”.
Count two reads, “that you Otoko Micha Owen (alias Maurice Elibe) ‘m’ on or about the 22nd day of June 2012 at Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State within the Jurisdiction of the said Commission in the course of the exercise of his official duties, represented yourself to be in the employment of Rivers State Local Government Service Commission in order to enter into a recognizance for the bail of one Alhaji Tambaya Danyaro involved in a case of fraud which facts you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 39 (2) (a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under section 39 (2) (b) of the same Act”.
The court ordered that the accused be remanded in Prison custody and adjourned to January 11th, 2013 for hearing.
