Chritopher Chijoke Dara and his company, Chris Press Commercial Limited were on Tuesday May 21, 2013 arraigned before Justice Farouq Lawal of Kano State High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on one count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque.

The accused allegedly sold a stolen Mack truck to one Romanus Odoh for N670, 000 (Six Hundred and Seventy Thousand Naira). Few weeks after the delivery of the truck, it was arrested by police in Lagos on the grounds that the vehicle was stolen from its owners at gun- point in the South-East

The accused offered to refund the money collected from the buyer of the truck and issued a Diamond Bank cheque for N300, 000 which was dishonoured on presentation for lack of sufficient credit in his account.

The charge reads; "that you Chris Commercial Limited and Christopher Chijoke Dara being the chairman/Managing Director and Signatory of Chris Press Commercial Limited on or about 14th of September, 2012 within the Judicial Division of the High Court of Justice of Kano state knowingly issued a Diamond Bank Cheque No;45485160 to the tune of three hundred thousand Naira only (N300,000) in favour of Romanus Odoh which when presented was dishonored on the ground that no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account upon which the cheque was drawn and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) and punishable under section 1(1)(b) (i)(ii) of the Dishonored Cheques (offences) Act, Laws of the Federation, 2004".

The accused pleaded not guilty after listening to the charge.

Prosecution counsel, Nasiru Salele requested the court for a date for trial in view of the plea of the accused, but defence counsel, Tajuddeen Shitu prayed the court to admit his client to bail.

Justice Lawal granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500, 000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) and two sureties in like sum, and adjourned the case to June 19, 2013 for continuation of hearing.

Media & Publicity Unit