N12.8 Million Fraud: EFCC Deploys Technology In Court

N12.8 Million Fraud: EFCC Deploys Technology In Court.

The
South East Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, Enugu on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 opened a new vista
in its prosecutorial annals when it deployed technology in the
prosecution of its case by calling a prosecution witness living in the
United States of America, Obu Nnamdi Patrick via Skype in a case of
Conspiracy, Obtaining Under False Pretences and Impersonation to the
tune of N12,800,200 (Twelve Million, Eight Hundred Thousand Two Hundred
Naira) against Amobi Alukwu and his wife, Helen Alukwu which was brought
before Justice N.I. Buba of the Federal High Court Enugu.

Alukwu,
who was a brother in-law of the complainant was accused of obtaining
the said sums by first claiming that his brother in-law, Obu Nnamdi
Patrick was dead and that his wife, Helen who is the sister to the
complainant, was the complainant’s daughter all in a bid to claim
compensation on two plots of land at Ifo Layout, Abakpa Nike Enugu from
Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd/NIPP, whose high tension wire
passed through the lands.

Investigation also revealed that when
actual payment was to be made and in order to lay credence to being the
bonafide beneficiary, Alukwu knowing that the properties was captured in
the name of its true owner, Obu Nnamdi Patrick, further presented a
sworn affidavit of change of name in his own name as being the same
person as the complainant and even made his staff to confirm the change
of name.

In his evidence via Skype, the complainant stated he was
the rightful owner of the land and as could be seen, he is alive not
deceased as was purportedly reported by the complainant. He equally said
that he never gave the defendant the power of attorney and deed of
assignment of the land stating that Alukwu was his in-law being a
brother to his (Patrick’s) wife.

Later in his testimony, the
Investigating officer, Collins Iheonunekwu gave a cursory insight into
the findings of the Commission stating that the defendant lied in court
to get a sworn affidavit claiming the same name as the complainant to
get compensation from George Nzei and Co, the company contracted by
NDPHC/NIPP to evaluate and pay compensation to beneficiaries.

The case has been adjourned to April 15, 2019 for continuation of trial.

Media & Publicity

March 27, 2019

Source:- EFCC