Justice Emmanuel Obile of the Federal High Court, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has fixed March 31 for the commencement of trial of a Dutch, Peiter Borremans, and his wife, Nkechi over alleged $330,000 USD fraud charges.
The couple were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
EFCC alleged that the couple’s received the money, equivalent to about N125.7million at official exchange rate, for the sale of a marine tanker vessel which they failed to deliver to the buyer.
The commission said in a statement that the duo was arraigned alongside their firm, Lagon Trade Limited, on two counts of conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.
According to the statement, the defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.
The anti-graft agency said investigation into the alleged crime followed the complaint by a petitioner who alleged that his companies Jackkyson Multi Services Limited and Alot General services Limited, allegedly offered to purchase a marine tanker vessel from Lagon Trade Limited for $1,100,000.
The petitioner was said to have made a part payment of $330,000 for the vessel.
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The defendants allegedly vanished into thin air after collecting the money and all efforts to get a refund or delivery of the vessel proved abortive.
The EFCC said their offence is contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and (2) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
Given their pleas, prosecuting counsel, N.A Dodo, urged the court to adjourn the case for commencement of trial.
He also urged the judge to remand the defendants in a correctional centre.
Responding, defence counsel, C. A Okowanya, prayed that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody due to the second wave of COVID-19.
The judge ordered the defendants to be remanded in EFCC custody pending determination of their bail application
