The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Emmanuel Sanikpege before Justice P .I. Ajoku, of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The anti-graft agency in a statement issued Tuesday said its Port Harcourt Zonal Command arraigned the suspect for forging a letter of attestation and presenting himself as a surety to bail one Umor Bright, a suspect under investigation by the EFCC.
It added that Sanikpege was arraigned on two- count charges bordering on forgery, contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act.
One of the count charges reads: “That you Emmanuel Sanikpege on or about the 22nd day of August, 2022, at Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make a forged document to wit: LETTER OF ATTESTATION RE: Emanuel Sanikpege purportedly from Government Senior Secondary School, Oyigbo, Rivers State, a document which you knew was forged; with intent that the document be acted upon by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as original and genuine; and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act”.
The agency noted that the defendant pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him.
It stressed that in view of his plea, prosecution counsel, B. O. Agala prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of trial.
Meanwhile, the defence counsel, T. Musa informed the court of a pending application to bail his client.
He urged the court to grant the defendant bail to enable him to prepare for his trial.
The agency said Justice Ajoku thereafter granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1, 000,000.00 and two sureties in like sum.
It noted that the court said the sureties must be civil servants with Rivers State Government or Federal Government of Nigeria.
The court stressed that the sureties must also be on grade level 12 and above, and must own a landed property in Port Harcourt with certificates of occupancy to be deposited with the court.
Also, the sureties should deposit two recent passport photographs each, or any means of identification with the court registry. The judge further ruled that the verification of the sureties be carried out by the EFCC.
The judge adjourned the matter to March 12, 2024 for commencement of trial and remanded the defendant in the Port Harcourt Correctional Service.