…Secures Conviction of Two Nigerians for Cybercrime in Ibadan
The Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, arraigned an Indian national, Yuvraj Kumar Mehra, before Justice Olanrawaju Majekobe of the Ogun State High Court.
The suspect was docked on an eight-count charges bothering on conspiracy and issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N70million
EFCC arraigned the defendant alongside his firm, Dolphin Steels Nigeria Limited.
According to the press statement from Head, Media & Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, Yuvraj was docked for his refusal to pay the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company Plc, the said sum for power supplied to his company.
“Investigation carried out by the operatives of the Ibadan Command revealed that the defendant issued a total number of thirteen dud cheques for N125, 000, 000.00 (One Hundred and Twenty Five Million Naira) to IBEDC, between October 2, 2018 and December 3, 2018.
“Upon persistent effort by IBEDC, the defendant made part payment but reneged in paying the balance of N70million and all attempt to get him to pay were futile.” The statement reads.
One of the counts reads: “That you Yuvraj Kumar Mehra, Dolphin Steels Nigeria Limited, Mohit Gupta (at large) and Sushil Kumar (at large), on or about the 5th of December, 2018 at Sango Ota within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired to commit an illegal act to wit: issuance of Dishonoured Cheque, an offence contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30 Laws of Ogun State.”
Another count reads: “That you Yuvraj Kumar Mehra, Dolphin Steels Nigeria Limited, Mohit Gupta (at large) and Sushil Kumar (at large), on or about the 5th of December, 2018 at Sango Ota within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court knowingly and fraudulently issued Zenith Bank Plc Cheque No. 2493, dated 30th of November, 2018 in the sum of (10, 000, 000.00) Ten Million Naira only, made payable to Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, which when presented for payment was dishonoured on the grounds that no funds or insufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account on which the cheque was draw.”
After the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
The prosecution counsel, Sanusi Galadanchi, asked the court for a trial date and the remand of the defendant pending the determination of the case.
But counsel to the defendant, Clifford Anuge pleaded with the court to admit his client to bail as he informed that the bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution and the court.
Justice Majekobe, after listening to both parties, granted Yuvraj bail in the sum of N4.1million and two sureties in the sum of N2, 050, 000 (Two Million, Fifty Thousand Naira) each.
The Network gathered that the defendant was asked to deposit his international passport with the court registrar.
The matter was adjourned till May 18, 2022 for commencement of trial.