The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 arraigned a society lady, Vera Johnson before Justice Ibrahim M. Buka of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja. Johnson was docked on a four-count charge of obtaining the sum of twelve million naira (N12,000,000) from one Obiageli Obidiaso under false pretence of securing a plot of land for her in Wuye District, Abuja.
She was also accused of issuing a dud cheque using her registered Non Governmental Organisation, NGO, Global Network for Anti-Corruption Initiative’s account name in the sum of four million Naira (N4,000,000).
Prosecution counsel, Salisu Majidadi, said one of the offences against the accused person was committed contrary to section 1(1) (a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other fraud related Offences Act,2006 and punishable under section 1 (3) of the same Act.
Additional charges were brought under section 1(1) (b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act Cap D11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section 1 (1) (b) (i) of the same Act. She pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Johnson’s ordeal started sometime in 2010 when she was introduced to her victim as a socialite who knew her way round the Federal Capital Development Authority, the Abuja Municipal Area Council and Abuja Geographic Information Service, and could facilitate the acquisition of land within the shortest time possible.
It was after her inability to facilitate the procurement of the said land that she was reported to the EFCC. Further investigation revealed she had several of such allegations against her which led to her arrest. An attempt by her counsel, Steve I. Imokhe to move an application for bail was opposed by the prosecution counsel on the grounds that he needed time to study and respond to the application and that the suspect had jumped an administrative bail earlier granted her by the EFCC.
The presiding Judge adjourned the case till April 4th, 2012 for hearing of the application for bail.
