The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, arraigned one Heart Chidozie Obum on a five-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of N72,689,000 (Seventy-Two Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Nine Naira) and £31,200 (Thirty-one Thousand, Two Hundred Pound) before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.


Obum allegedly promised to help the petitioner get a certificate of sponsorship to travel abroad. He, however, allegedly reneged on his promise after collecting money from the petitioner


One of the counts reads: “That you, Heart Chidozie Obum, sometime in 2023, and in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence, and with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of £31,200 (Thirty-one Thousand, Two Hundred Pounds) from Peace Asonye Udochukwu as payment for certificate of sponsorship.”


Another charges reads: “ That you, Heart Chidozie Obum, sometime in 2023, and in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly took the sum of N72,689,000 (Seventy-Two Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Nine Naira) from Peace Asonye udochukwu as payment of certificate of sponsorship.” He pleaded "not guilty" to the charge preferred against him.


In view of this, the prosecution counsel, T.J.Banjo, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the prosecution prove its case against the defendant.


He also urged the court to remand the defendant at a Correctional facility pending his trial date.


The defence counsel, O. Oluwashewu, however, informed the court of a pending application for bail for his client.


Consequently Justice Oshodi adjourned till December 3, 2024, for hearing of the bail application and also February 19 and 20, 2025 for trial.


The Judge ordered the custodial remand of the defendant pending his trial date