The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, October 31, 2012, arraigned the duo of Obinna James and Eddy Ogagu before Justice S. A. Aliyu of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt , Rivers State . They were arraigned on a two count charge, bordering on Conspiracy and attempt to obtain the sum of N250, 000.00 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira) Under False Pretence.

The duo allegedly attempted to defraud Allison James, a Staff of the EFCC Port Harcourt Zonal Office.

One of the charge reads: "That you Obinna James, Eddy Ogagu on or about the 7th day of September 2012 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud attempt to obtain the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N250, 000.00) from Allison James Taiwo under the false pretence that the money will be used to purchase a sample of the item you called "HWH TYPE 10A" for a contract of supply to Agip Oil Company in Omoku Rivers State. Facts which you knew or ought to know are false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (b) and read together with Section 9(2) both of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act".

According to the complainant, the accused persons called him by telephone on September 7, 2012, under the pretence that they were Engineers with Nigerian Agip Oil Company, and requested his help to execute the supply of HWH type 10A to Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

But James, who immediately suspected foul play, quickly reported the matter to the Head of Operations of the EFCC Port Harcourt zonal office, who asked him to play along with the accused persons in order to effect their arrest which was successfully executed.

The accused persons however pleaded not guilty to both counts necessitating the prosecuting counsel, Miss C. Anakwe to pray the court to fix a date for trial. But Counsel to the second accused, Charles Menkiti urged the court to grant Ogagu bail as the offence was a bailable one. Counsel to James, the first accused person, M. M. Orji also pleaded with the court to grant his client bail.

While adjourning the case to 15th January, 2013, for hearing on the bail application, the Judge ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.