The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a forex broker, Daniel Chukwuka Koussou, before Justice C. O. Ajah of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout.
Koussou was charged with a one-count offense of criminal conversion and stealing amounting to N112,800,800.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Eight Hundred Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira).
The charge stated that the defendant, sometime in July 2022, in Enugu, fraudulently converted the sum of N112,800,800.00, which was the property of Chinedu Igbokwe, for his personal use. This offense is contrary to Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30 of the Laws of Enugu State and punishable under Section 353 (1) of the same law.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. The EFCC counsel, Ahmad Yusuf Abdullahi, requested a trial date and that the defendant be remanded in the Enugu State Correctional facility.
The defense counsel, Ogechukwu Agbo, informed the court about a motion on notice for the defendant's bail. However, the EFCC counsel strongly opposed the bail application, arguing that the defendant might jump bail considering the weight of the allegation.
After hearing from both sides, Justice Ajah granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50,000,000.00 (Fifty Million Naira) with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident within the jurisdiction, swear an affidavit of means, show evidence of tax payment for the past three years, deposit two full-size photographs, and be public servants of not less than Grade Level 16. The sureties must also be verified in writing by the prosecution.
The defendant was remanded in the Enugu State Correctional facility until the bail conditions are fulfilled.
Koussou was arrested following a petition from an individual who claimed to have sent $276,000 to the defendant, a supposed agent for Providus Bank, to convert into Naira and return the same. However, the defendant only sent a part-payment of N21,759,771 and diverted the rest for his personal use.
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