EFCC Arraigns Maritime Businessman, Bernard Nzenwa on Forgery Allegations

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a businessman, Bernard Okechukwu Nzenwa along with his company, Omega Maritime and Energy Limited before a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja.

The defendant was arraigned before Justice Rahmon Oshodi on one count charged bordering on issuance of false documents.

The anti-graft agency alleged that, Bernard Okechukwu Nzenwa along with a company, Omega Maritine and Energy Limited and Dr. Oluchi Nzenwa (Now at Large) issued false document purported to have emanated from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB)

The EFCC counsel, Mr G.C Akaogu told the court that the defendants sometimes on March 9, 2011 issued a false document titled, “Bond for the re-exportation of imported goods delivered without payment of import duty which they purported to have emanated from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

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Their offences contrary to Section 360(1)(b) and punishable under section 364(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The defendant, Nzenwa who answered for the company pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Following his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Akaogu prayed the court to remand the suspect in Correctional Facility pending the determination of the suit.

However, the defendant’s counsel, Mr. Clinton Eaezie in his oral application prayed the court to grant his client bail. He told the court that the defendant was granted administrative bail at the EFCC office and thus not a flight risk.

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Responding to the oral bail application, the court declined granting bail to the defendant on the basis of an oral application.

Justice Oshodi in his ruling, held that the defendant counsel could not furnish the court with the terms and conditions the defendant was granted bail in EFCC custody. And he did not file bail application for the defendant.

“This is a court of record. I am not inclined to take the defendant’s oral bail application. The defendant’s counsel was unable to furnish the court with the details of the terms of the administrative bail. I cannot grant him interim condition.The defendant is hereby remanded in EFCC custody”, he ruled.

The court directed that the defendant counsel can file his client’s bail application before the next adjourn date and subsequently fixed February 17, 2023 for trial.