KINGSLEY EBERE
A 61-year old man, Clement Uchechukwu Nnedu, has been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly swindling First Bank PLC to the tune N17m under false pretence by obtaining loan from the bank.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at First Bank located by Emmanuel Bus Stop, Oko-Oba Agege, Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspect obtained the loan and when the time he agreed to refund the money, he signed and issued a Zenith Bank Cheque of the said amount and bolted away.
The manager of the bank later wanted to cash the money and it was discovered that there was no money in the account. At that point, he could not be reached as he disconnected every communication he had with the bank.
The matter was reported to the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit in Ikeja,Lagos. The operatives moved into action, eventually arrested and detained him at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable because he told the Police that he was aware that he had no money in his account before he gave the bank his cheque.
He was consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read :
COUNT 1: “That you, Clement Uchechukwu Nnedu ‘m’ on the 22nd of September 2022 at First Bank by Emmanuel Bus Stop, Oko-Oba Agege, Lagos State in the Lagos Magisterial District, did obtain Seventeen Million Naira Only (N17,000,000.00) from First Bank Nigeria Pic Agege Branch, Lagos State, under the pretence to obtaining credit to yourself, a representation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 of the criminal law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Clement Uchechukwu Nnedu ‘m’ on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did issue a Zenith Bank cheque No: 826 dated 22nd March 2024, to the sum of Ten Million Naira Only (N10,000,000.00) having the full knowledge that there was no such money in your account and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 321 (b) and punishable under Section 315 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O.Tanimola, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
