Reports Reaching Trail Reporters News Room, revealed that One Mr. Sunday Owen Ajaluke, a surety to a serial fraudster, Emmanuel Aghotor has been arraigned by the Commissioner of Police, Delta State in Magistrate Court 2 Asaba on a 4 count charge involving conspiracy, fraud, stealing and issuance of dud cheque.
Trail Reporters had earlier published a detailed report on how the Principal suspect, Emmanuel Aghotor defrauded his victim of N1.2M which was meant for the purchase of a fairly used Toyota Corolla car and how he was arrested by Ebrumede Divisional Police Headquarters, Effurun for conspiracy, stealing and issuance of dud cheque.
The suspect, Emmanuel Aghotor was taken on bail by the Manager, Busy Bee Hotels, which is located along Uti road by “Y” junction, off PTI Road, Effurun. Findings from our investigation showed that the Surety, Mr. Ajaluke Owen Sunday alongside the principal suspect, Mr. Emmanuel Aghotor had both been on the run since November 10th 2019 until the Surety, Mr. Ajaluke Owen Sunday was arrested by Ebrumede Divisional Police Headquarters on the 20rh of February, 2020 when he sneaked into his hotel and he was then transferred to Delta State CID, Police Headquarters, Asaba for further investigation. On conclusion of investigation, our Reporters gathered that Mr. Ajaluke Sunday Owen, who stood as Surety to the Principal suspect, Mr. Emmanuel Aghotor, was charged with a four count charge of Conspiracy, obtaining money under false pretence, stealing and issuance of dud cheque. The charge sheet with Charge No. CMA/131C/2020 sighted by our correspondent read as follows:
Count I : That you Owen Sunday Ajaluke ‘m’ and Emmanuel Aghotor ‘m’ now at large on the the date and place , in the aforementioned Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit : obtaining Money Under False Pretences and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 (A) of the Criminal Code Cap. C 21, Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006
Count II : That you Owen Sunday Ajaluke ‘m’ and Emmanuel Aghotor ‘m’ now at large on the same date, place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did with intent to defraud and obtain a total sum of One Million, Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,200,000) from one Osiobe Franklin Ovie ‘m’ under the pretence of selling one blue colour Toyota Corolla Car to him which representation you know to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. C 21, Vol, 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.
Count III : That you Owen Sunday Ajaluke ‘m’ and Emmanuel Aghotor ‘m’ now at large on the same date and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Stealing and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516 (A) of the Criminal Code Cap. C 21, Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.
Count IV: That you Owen Sunday Ajaluke ‘m’ and Emmanuel Aghotor ‘m’ now at large on the same date and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District did with intent to steal, fraudulently converted to your own use, a total sum of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,200,000.00) belonging to one Osiobe Franklin Ovie ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap. C 21, Vol. 1, Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.
It was gathered by our correspondent that when the charges were read to the suspect in Court, he pleaded not guilty to all the 4 count charges.
The Defendant’s Counsel moved an oral application for the bail of her client which was not opposed by the prosecution counsel, Barr. C.O Achugbu, representing the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, and the presiding Magistrate, M.C Okwuasaba granted bail to the defendant in the sum of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N1,200,000.00) and one surety in like sum, and the surety must be a civil Servant and must be resident within the jurisdiction of the Court and the case was adjourned to 19th May, 2020 for commencement of trial.
Efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Police Command for comments did not yield positive results as at the time of going to the Press.
