EFCC Arraigns Suspected Fraudster for N30m Land Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on May 5, 2014 arraigned one Enekwechi Raymond Onyimba before the Chief Judge of Enugu State High Court, Justice I. A Uwazulike on a 2- count charge of criminal diversion of fund and obtaining money by false pretence. Onyimba is alleged to have sold a property located at plot 622, Trans-Ekulu, New GRA, Enugu to Enyinnaya Igwe but fraudulently withheld the certificate of occupancy (C of O) to the property valued at thirty million naira and used the said C of O as collateral to secure a loan for his company, Ojaz Nigeria Limited. The complainant alleged that he bought the said property from the accused via an irrevocable power of Attorney dated 12th December, 2000 and registered as no 77/77 in volume 1473 at Land Registry in Enugu, in August, 2005. When the charges were read in court, the accused person pleaded not guilty. Count two of the charge reads: “Enekwechi Raymond Onyimba on or about the 29th August 2006 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of the Enugu State High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, induced Diamond Bank Plc to grant a loan of (N3,400,000.00) Three million, four hundred thousand naira to your company (Ojaz Nigeria Limited), when you falsely represented to the said Diamond Bank Plc that you are the beneficial owner of Plot 622 Trans-Ekulu, New GRA Enugu which you offered as collateral for the said loan, which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence”. The Court granted the accused person bail in the sum of N1million and one surety in like sum. The case was adjourned till June 24 and 30, 2014 for the continuation of hearing.