The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, arraigned
one Precious Chimaobi Uzondu on a two -count charge bordering on
alleged refusal to accept Naira as a legal tender before Justice
A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
One of the count reads: "That you,
Precious Chimaobi Uzondu, on the 10th of December 2024, in Lagos,
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, refused to accept Naira
(Nigeria’s legal tender) by accepting the sum of $5700 ( Five Thousand Seven
Hundred USD) as a means of payment for a purchase of a Carter diamond bracelet
with serial number (12345678) and you thereby lcommitted an offence contrary to
Section 20 of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when
they were read to him.
In view of his pleas, prosecution counsel,
Hannatu U. KofarNaisa, prayed the court for a trial date and for the
defendant to be remanded in a Correctional Centre.
Counsel to the defendant, Jennifer
Achinuagole, informed the court of a pending bail application and prayed
the court to adopt the same as her oral application.
Responding, KofarNaisa informed the court about
a counter-affidavit to the application and a written
address. She prayed the court to accept the same and
discountenance the application by the defendant.
After listening to both parties, Justice Owoeye
admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N5m, with two sureties in like
sum. The sureties must own landed properties in Lagos, which must be
verified by the court, and also swear to an affidavit of means.
The Judge also ordered the remand of the defendant in
the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and adjourned till April 8, 2025
for commencement of trial.
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