Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned Ikenna Okwukwe, Somina Wokomo and Boma Morgan Ezekiel before Justice S.C. Amadi of the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt, on a 14-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N60,427,000,00.
Okwukwe, account officer to O.B Lulu Briggs Foundation allegedly conspired with Wokomo and Ezekiel, to steal the said sum from the foundation’s account with a new generation bank in Port Harcourt, using cheques in his custody to make payments to individuals that had no dealings with the foundation.
Count one of the charge reads: “that you Ikenna Okwukwe Ogwuma, Somina Wokama, and Boma Morgan Ezekiel between the month of December 2012 and November, 2014 at No. 17, Igbodo Street, Old Government Reserved Area (G.R.A) Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of this Honorable Court did conspire with each other to commit felony to wit: stealing and thereby committed an offence of Conspiracy Contrary to Section 316 of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”
The second count further reads: “that you Ikenna Okwukwe Ogwuma, Somina Wokama, and Boma Morgan Ezekiel on or about the 11th day of December, 2013 at Access Bank Plc., Olu Obasanjo Road branch Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of this Honorable Court did fraudulently steal the sum of Ten Million Four Hundred and Twenty Seven Thousand Naira (N10, 427,000.00) Property of O. B Lulu Briggs Foundation using a United Bank for Africa Plc. account number 100917802 operated and maintained in the name of Okunnu Abideen Olakunle and thereby committed an offence of Stealing Contrary to Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”
They pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
Amadi then ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter to 6th August 2015 for consideration of bail applications.