A business woman, Ngozi Ibeka, has been dragged before an Abuja High Court on a 14-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and breach of trust.
Ibeka, who is the Managing Director of Em-Lette Nigeria Limited, reportedly received several supplies of rice from Stallion Nigeria Limited and issued 14 different cheques in payment.
According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) the cheques were dishonoured by the bank due to insufficient funds in her account
She pleaded not guilty to the charge.
However, Justice Valentine Ashi, declined the application to move a motion for bail for the accused by her Counsel, Mr. Chuka Udemezue.
Udemezue had filed a motion for the court to admit his client to bail but had failed to regularise the bail processes before the sitting of the court.
Ashi drew the counsel’s attention to the fact that there were certain anomalies in the processes filed by the counsel.
He, then, said that he would not grant the bail application since the counsel had not laid a proper foundation to warrant the granting of bail.
“Bail cannot be granted on sentiments; there is no document before this court backing the arguments,’’ he said.
The judge then ordered the counsel to file in proper documents before entering appearance for the accused, and adjourned the case to March 4, 2014, for ruling.
The accused is to be remanded in EFCC custody, pending bail application.
