The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal Command, on Thursday May 12, 2022, arraigned one Adikpo Diamond Aondover before Justice Abdu Dogo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Makurdi, on a five count charge for allegedly obtaining the sum of Fourteen Million Naira (N14, 000,000.00) by false pretence.

Count one of the charge reads, “that you, Adikpo Diamond Aondoaver and Jerry Ominyi Ada (now at large) sometime in July, 2020 at Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an unlawful act to wit: did by concealment retain the control of the sum of Fourteen Million Naira (N14,000,000.00) only, in Account No. 0170499393 domiciled in Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), belonging to you, being the proceeds of a criminal conduct on behalf of one John Felix Ella, knowing that the money is as a result of criminal conduct by the said John Felix Ella and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 17(a) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004 and punishable under Section 17(b) of the same Act".

He pleaded 'not guilty' when the charges were read to him.

In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Mary Onoja, asked the Court to remand the defendant and fix a date for trial to commence.

However, defence counsel, Agbenyi Stephen urged the Court to grant his client bail.

Justice Dogo granted the defendant bail in the sum of Five Million Naira (N5, 000,000.00) with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a civil servant of Grade Level 13 on the service of Benue State or Federal Government, have a fully developed landed property within Makurdi worth N10 million with Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

The defendant was remanded in Makurdi Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned till June 30, 2022 for trial to commence.

Media & Publicity

12 May, 2022