A man identified as Joel Mba Okodi has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt zonal command, before the Imo State High Court in Owerri.

Okodi was arraigned before Justice C.C. Okereke on an eight-count charge bordering on stealing and issuance of a dud cheque.

EFCC revealed this in a statement posted on its X handle on Thursday, January 18.

Part of the statement reads: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Command, on Thursday, January 11, 2024, arraigned one Joel Mba Okodi before the Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State.

“He was arraigned before Justice C.C. Okereke on an eight-count charge bordering on stealing and issuance of a dud cheque.

“Count 8 of the charge reads: “That you Joel MBA Okodi on or about the 12th of September, 2019 at Orlu within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently issued a First Bank Cheque No. 85621949 dated the 12th of September, 2019 in the sum of Ten Million Naira, N10,000.00 in favour of Pauly Merchandise Enterprises in partial fulfilment of your financial obligation to him in the sum of Fifty Million Naira, N50,000,000.00 only, and when the said cheque was presented for payment, it was dishonoured due to insufficient funds standing to your credit. Issuing dishonoured cheques is contrary to Section 1(1) (a) and (b)(i) and (ii) of the Dishonoured Cheque (Offences) Act Cap D11 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation) 2007.”

“When the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded ‘not guilty’ and in view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, M.T. Iko prayed the court for a trial date, which was not opposed by the defence counsel N.N. Chukwuemeka. He, however, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail.”