Local school proprietor in court for fraud

Abuja - A local school owner has been arraigned
before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the Federal
Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on a three-
count charge bordering on issuance of dud cheque
and breach of trust.
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission
(EFCC) is seeking the prosecution of Dr George
Odabi along with his company, Deo Gratias
International School Limited.
According to a press statement by the
Commission, the accused, sometime in September,
2013 received a N40, 1 million loan from one
Egbunola Ogungbesan for the renovation of his
school but reneged on his promise to pay the
funds back.

The statement added that the accused issued
seven post dated Zenith Bank cheques amounting
to twenty seven million naira as part payment of
the loan which were dishonoured upon
presentation, due to insufficient funds in his
account.

The main count reads, “That you, Dr George Odabi,
being the owner and Chief Executive Officer of Deo
Gratias International School Limited sometime in
September, 2013 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of
the High Court of Federal Capital Territory, with
knowledge that you had insufficient funds in your
account, issued to one Egbunola Ogungbesan a
Zenith Bank cheque dated 30th September,2013
with account name Deo Gratias International
Limited for the sum of N9, 000, 000 (Nine Million
Naira) which said cheque when presented for
payment within three months of issuance was
dishonoured due to insufficient funds in your
account and thereby committed an offence
punishable under Section 1(1)(b)(i)of the
Dishonoured Cheques Offences Cap D11 Laws of
the Federation of Nigeria Act 2007.”

Justice Kekemeke granted the accused bail in the
sum of ten million naira (N10, 000,000) and two
sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a
level 15 officer and the case was adjourned to May
8 for trial.