DUD CHEQUE: EFCC ARRAIGNS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned the Chairman, House Committee on Internal Security, Hon. Aliyu Gebi , for issuing dud cheques of about N120.5 million, to his lender.

Gebi is representing Bauchi Federal Constituency on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change.

He was arraigned on a 13-count charge before Justice Abba Bello Muhammad of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, sitting in Apo, Abuja.

The anti-graft agency accused him of issuing 13 dud cheques in favour of the complainant, Musty Petroleum Limited, an offence contrary to and punishable under section l(b) (i) of the Dishonoured Cheque (offences) Act, 2004 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

Specifically, the Accused issued the complainant posted- dated cheques from his United Bank For Africa (UBA) personal account and a company account named Craft Technology Limited with value of dates on 13/01/2012 and 12/01/12 respectively.

The cheques were issued to cover an interest free loan of N125, 000, 000 repayable within a period of 60 days, which the company borrowed him.

Upon lodging them into UBA account of Musty Petroleum Limited on 1/02/12, the cheques were returned unpaid due to insufficient funds in the drawer’s account.

Gebi pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Moving the bail application, the defence counsel, Babatunde Oyefeso, prayed the court to grant him bail on self-recognition.

He informed the court that the accused had been enjoying the administrative bail granted him by the anti-graft agency.

The prosecution counsel, Mohammed Bello, did not oppose the bail application.

Confirming that the accused had deposited his diplomatic passport with the commission, he urged the court to note the gravity of the offence by imposing condition that will make him attend trial.

Source: The Nation