The Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented estate agent Godfrey Oscar Opara before a Federal High Court on Wednesday. He faces charges of swindling Mr. Ibim Simeon Dakubo of N25.4 million, proceeds from a property sale.
Presided over by Justice P.I. Ajoku, the court arraigned Opara on four counts related to obtaining money by false pretense, a violation of Section 1(1) (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The defendant also faced charges of attempting to swindle Mr. Ibim Simeon Dakubo of N16,200,000 by falsely claiming ownership of two plots of land that belonged to another person. This action is deemed an offense under Section 1(1)(b) of the same Act and punishable under Section 1(3).
According to a statement by Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Opara sold a property he was entrusted to sell as an agent but failed to remit the proceeds to the owner or return the property.
Following Wednesday’s hearing, Justice Ajoku granted the defendant bail at N1 million, with two sureties in similar sums. The sureties, stipulated to be public servants with the River State Government or the Federal Government of Nigeria, must not be below grade level 12. They are required to deposit two recent passport photographs with the court registry, be residents in Port Harcourt, and possess a landed property with a Certificate of Occupancy.
Additionally, the sureties must provide a letter of evidence from their respective offices. Justice Ajoku remanded the defendant in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service until all bail conditions are met. The trial is set to commence on May 6, 2024. Earlier, the prosecution counsel, M. Abubakar, requested a new trial date, while the defense counsel, Okey Ehogwo, sought bail for the accused.
