EFCC arraigns popular church elder and wife for alleged N500m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former senior banker with Polaris Bank, Mrs. Ugochi Dike and her husband Architect Emmanuel Dike, who is also a popular elder of Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The couple was arraigned before a federal high court sitting in Port Harcourt.

Mrs Ugochi Dike is accused of defrauding a company, Clip Nigeria Ltd, to the tune of 500 million with the guise of investing in contracts execution with NNPC, SPDC and other IOCs with clear terms of return of investments to Clip Nigeria Ltd.

The company alleged that after a period of no returns, they realised they had been defrauded. They then asked for a refund of the principal money from Mrs Ugochi Dike.

Unable to refund the money, Mrs Dike claimed her husband, Arch. Emmanuel Dike invested the money into his Cryptocurrency trading business.

The couple who are facing a 5 counts charge with suit number FHC/PH/458C/23 FRN vs UGOCHI EZIAKU DIKE & ORS were brought to court from the custody of the EFCC on a 5 counts charge which includes: “Count 1: Conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 8(a) of Advance Free Fraud and other fraud-related offenses Act, 2006 punishable under section 1(3).”

Ajoku granted bail to the accused in the sum of N 1 million each to the couple, noting that the surety must be up to a grade level 12 civil servant in Rivers state and should present a letter of employment and certificate of occupancy.

The court affirmed that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court, produce passport photographs and admonish the lawyer to ensure his clients appear in court during the next sitting.

The court, however, adjourned till January 30, 2024, for trial and remanded the accused persons in the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, pending when they meet the bail conditions.