The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, on Monday, arraigned Nkechi Mercy Ikogwe, Elites Finance Investment Limited and Efinc Global Investment Limited, before Justice E. A. Obile of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
They were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretence.
EFCC said the sum of N15,000,000 was paid by unsuspecting investors into the defendant’s accounts, Nkechi Mercy Ikogwe – account no 2087478165 in Zenith Bank and Joy Okari Ibiala – account no 2099253758 in United Bank for Africa (UBA).
Investigations further revealed that the defendant spent a total of N139,704,097 of the investors’ money on playing sports betting.
Detectives also found that she paid a tithe of N1million to a leading Pentecostal church in Port Harcourt.
One of the counts read: “That you Nkechi Mercy Ikogwe, Elites Finance Investment Ltd and Efinc Global Investment Ltd sometime in 2019 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N179,326,386 by inducing unsuspecting members of the public to invest with your companies: Elites Finance Investment Ltd and Efinc Global Investment Ltd, assuring them under a false pretence of making 15% interest on all investment made, a representation you knew to be false, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.
Sequel to their plea, prosecuting counsel, K. W. Chukwuma-Eneh, prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.
Defence counsel, G. N. Godwins, moved an oral application for the bail of the defendants.
This was opposed by the prosecution on the ground that such must be in writing, and properly addressed to the court.
Justice Obile ordered that the Nkechi Mercy Ikogwe be remanded in EFCC custody.
The judge adjourned the matter till October 19, 2020, for determination of the bail application.
