The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, July 1, 2015 arraigned Raymond Duke Haruna before Justice O.C Agbaza of Federal Capital Territory High Court Jabi on an 11-count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque and obtaining money under false pretence to the tune of N20,000,000.
Haruna, was alleged to have collected N20,000,000 from Godwin Maduka as payment for a plot of land at an estate in Wuye District of Abuja belonging to Dove House Investment, which is run by him.
He however, breached the agreement as he was unable to get Maduka the plot of land for which he had been paid. Maduka, subsequently demanded for a refund.
Haruna made a refund of N4,000,000 and issued a Diamond Bank cheque of N1,000,000 which when presented was returned unpaid.
One of the counts read: “That you Raymond Duke Haruna being the Managing Director of Dove House investment limited on or about the 6th day of December, 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourble Court obtained the sum of two million naira with Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Manager’s cheque number 00217501 from one Godwill Maduka on the pretence of selling to him a plot of land in your estate situated and lying at Wuye, Abuja which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.”
He pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.
Prosecuting counsel, S. A Ugwuegbulam, thereafter, asked the court for a trial date to present his witnesses.
Counsel to the accused, A. Maji, pleaded with the court to allow him present an oral bail application.
Justice Agbaza, however, told the defence counsel to present a formal application and adjourned the case to September 23 and 24 for trial.
