TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Pius Ezeokafor, a former director of physical planning, Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra state, over alleged fraud worth N27 million.

Ezeokafor, who is currently a senior lecturer in the department of architecture at the polytechnic, was arraigned on Tuesday before O. Ezeoke, judge of the Anambra state high court, on three counts bordering on obtaining money under false pretence and gratification.

In a statement by the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s spokesman, said the former director received gratification to influence the award of a contract.

“The defendant allegedly met the petitioners on site at the polytechnic where they were executing two construction contracts and offered to use his office as director of physical planning to swing a N1 billion contract for them if they would pay him an N27 million facilitation fee,” the statement read.

“After receiving the payment, the defendant neither facilitated the promised contract nor refunded their money.”

Upon arraignment, Ezeokafor pleaded not guilty to the charges after which Lucius Ogbuagu, his lawyer, moved a bail application.

He was granted bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety in like sum who must have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court.

The surety must be recommended by a legal practitioner or town union president and must show evidence of tax clearance for the past three years.

The matter has been adjourned till October 14, 21, and November 5 for trial to commence.

One of the charges read: “That you, Arc. Pius Ugochukwu Ezeokafor sometime between the year 2011 and 2012 at Oko, Aguata local government area within the jurisdiction of the high court of Anambra state, did commit felony to wit: with intent to defraud, obtained by false pretence the sum of N27m from one Emerson Associates Ltd. and Dr Okechukwu Enemuo (being managing director of Emerson Associates Limited), when you represented to them that you would help them get a contract of N1 billion upon payment of facilitation fee, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence.”