EFCC arraigns businessman over false declaration

A NIGERIAN businessman,
Chief Collins Onyejiaka, was
yesterday, arraigned before a
Lagos Federal High Court, by
the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, on
a two count charge bordering
on false declaration.
The anti-graft agency,
through his counsel, Mr. ABC
Azioko, in an amended charge
dated November 19, 2014,
informed Justice Mohammed
B. Idris led-court that the
accused had on or about May
24, 2015, in the Lagos judicial
of the court did knowingly
made a false declaration by
omitting to declare his interest
in a Mercedes 380 SE, marked
Lagos AQ 994 AGL, and a
Toyota Corona marked Lagos
BM 970 MUS.
The offences according
to the EFCC prosecutor, are
punishable under section
27(3)(b) of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission
Act, 2002.
Count one of the amended
charge reads; “that you Chief
Collins Onyejiaka, on or about
May 24, 2005, in the Lagos
judicial of the Federal High
Court, knowingly made a
false declaration by omitting
your interest in the Mercedes
Benz 380 SE, with registration
number AQ 994 AGL, and thereby committed an
offence punishable under
section 27(3)(b) of the
Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission Act,
2002.”
Count two of the charge
reads; “that you Chief
Collins Onyejiaka, on or
about May 24, 2005, in the
Lagos judicial of the Federal
High Court, knowingly
made a false declaration
by omitting your interest
in the Toyota Corona, with
registration number BM
970 AGL, and thereby
committed an offence
punishable under section
27(3)(b) of the Economic
and Financial Crimes
Commission Act, 2002.”
The accused pleaded
not guilty to the two count
charges.
Following the plea of
the accused, his counsel,
Ogbonna Ernest, applied to
court for an adjournment, to
enable him open his defence.
The EFCC had between
2010 and 2014, arraigned the
accused before the court on a
five count-charge, and have
his plea taken, while it has
also closed its case.
Consequently, after the
accused pleas were taken,
Justice Idris adjourned the
matter to May 15, for him to
open his defence