By Benjamin Nworie
A businessman based in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital, Victor
Ogbonna, has threatened to drag the member representing Onicha West
Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Valentine
Okike, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an
alleged issuance of a one million naira dud cheque in partial
satisfaction of his six million naira debt.
Ogbonna, who spoke through his counsel, Aja .N. Aja said he would soon
approach the anti-graft agency to investigate the alleged fraud.
However, in a petition dated August 15, 2016 addressed to Okike signed
by Ogbonna’s counsel which THISDAY obtained in Abakaliki, alleged that
Okike issued him two separate cheques of Five hundred thousand naira
each on May 30 and June 30, 2016 but it was returned unpaid three
times due to insufficient funds to carry out the obligation.
Ebonyi Lawmaker to face EFCC over alleged N1m dud cheque
Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki
A businessman based in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital, Victor
Ogbonna has threatened to drag Member representing Onicha West
Constituency in the Ebonyi state House of assembly; Hon. Valentine
Okike to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an
alleged issuance of one million naira dud cheque in partial
satisfaction of his six million naira debt.
Ogbonna, who spoke through his counsel, Aja .N. Aja said he would soon
approach the anti-graft agency to investigate the alleged fraud.
However, in a petition dated August 15, 2016 addressed to Okike signed
by Ogbonna’s counsel which THISDAY obtained in Abakaliki, alleged that
Okike issued him two separate cheques of Five hundred thousand naira
each on May 30 and June 30, 2016 but it was returned unpaid three
times due to insufficient funds to carry out the obligation.
“We act for and on the instruction of Victor Ogbonna (hereafter called
our client). It is our brief that sometime in May and June 2016, you
caused to be issued and did in fact issue two cheques totaling the sum
of N1, 000, 000 (one Million) to our client in partial satisfaction of
a debt of N6, 000, 000 (six million naira) you owe him”.
“Specifically, on the 3oth of May 2016, you issued to our client a
Zenith Bank Cheque with number 10452815 in the sum of N500, 000 (Five
hundred thousand naira). You subsequently gave our client another
Zenith Bank Cheque with number 10452816 and dated 30th June, 2016 in
the sum of N500, 000 (five hundred thousand naira)”.
“Both instruments were returned unpaid three times as you had
insufficient funds to meet the obligation”, the letter read.
Meanwhile, Okike has denied the claim, saying that he had at no time issued any dud cheque
to the claimant,.
Describing the allegation as baseless and plot by his
adversaries to impugn his integrity and reputation, he however confirmed that he received a letter of demand of the debt through
Ogbonna’s counsel, Aja.
“Let me make myself clear. I did not give any dud cheque to anybody. And I do not owe the said person. I received a letter of demand which
was sent through courier service, DHL. I have contacted my lawyers and
at the appropriate time, I will speak. Whether the claimant is the one
pursuing the matter or he is being pushed, I will take it up with
anybody who maligns me”, Okike threatened.
