THE Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a medical practitioner, Dr Eze Ekwealor, over suspected employment scam to the tune of N2,180,000, Punch Newspaper reports.

A statement by EFCC’s Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on Thursday night indicated that the suspect was arraigned before Justice A. T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The statement read, “He was arraigned on Monday on eight counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and forgery contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section (1) (3) of the same Act.”

One of the charges, according to the statement, read, “That you, Dr. Eze Ekwealor, on or about the 30th day of August 2019, at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, commit a felony to wit: obtained the sum of N500,000 from one Okoye Chinyere Evelyn through your bank account no: 2083960420 domiciled with Zenith Bank Plc under the pretext that you have some job slots with Nigeria Customs Service for job seekers, a pretext you knew, ought to have known, is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section (1) (3) of the same Act.”

The EFCC’s spokesman said the man pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges preferred against him.

Continuing, the statement said, “In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, F. O. Amama, prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of trial. However, counsel to the defendant, R. E. Wonogho, informed the court of his application for the bail of the defendant.

“He was opposed by the prosecution on the ground that the defendant might jump bail if granted. Amama told the court that it took EFCC time before arresting the defendant.”

“Justice Mohammed granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1m and two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must present a Certificate of Occupancy, while the other surety must be a Federal Civil Servant of Grade Level 14. Both sureties must also be resident within Port Harcourt.”

“Justice Mohammed adjourned the matter till September 29 and 30, 2021 for trial,” it concluded.