The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an alleged fake Bureau De Change operator, Okeke Ejike Callistus, before the Anambra State High Court sitting in Onitsha over an alleged N78.2 million fraud.
Callistus was docked before Justice D. A. Onyefulu on a 10-count charge bordering on forgery and stealing. The prosecution told the court that the defendant, who operated under the name Nwachimereze Amen Resources, allegedly defrauded his client of a total sum of N78,295,000 through fraudulent currency exchange dealings.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges states: “Mr. Okeke Ejike Callistus (trading under the name and style of Nwachimereze Amen Resources), sometime on the 2nd of May, 2024, at Onitsha… did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N62,745,000… being property of Ezegwu Leonard Chinedu… and thereby committed an offence.”
Another count alleges that the defendant, between May 3 and May 7, 2024, fraudulently converted an additional N15,550,000 belonging to the same complainant. The offences, the prosecution noted, contravene provisions of the Criminal Code Law of Anambra State.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Assistant Commander Rotimi Enitan Ajobiewe, urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
However, defence counsel, Hypolite Ohaneche, informed the court of a pending bail application and urged the court to grant his client bail. The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that “there is likelihood of the defendant jumping bail due to the fact that he previously jumped bail granted him by the Commission.”
In his ruling, Justice Onyefulu granted the defendant bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties. The court stipulated that one of the sureties must present a valid tax clearance certificate, while both must be relatives of the defendant, reside within the court’s jurisdiction, and possess valid National Identification Numbers.
The EFCC said the defendant was arrested following a petition by the complainant, who alleged that he entrusted Callistus with N78.2 million for onward transfer to a business partner in China. Instead of completing the transaction, the defendant reportedly remitted only part of the funds and issued telex documents purportedly from “ABA Bank of Cambodia” for the balance.
Investigations later revealed that the documents were fake. The Commission added that during interrogation, the defendant admitted receiving the funds but acknowledged diverting part of the money for personal use.
