Water corporation deputy director arraigned for ‘defrauding residents of N150k’ in Enugu

Emeka Edoh, the deputy director of Enugu State Water Corporation (ENSWC), has been arraigned for allegedly defrauding residents of N150,000. 

Edoh was arraigned on Tuesday before Joseph Agu, chief magistrate at the magistrate’s court in Enugu north.

The deputy director pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

“That you Edoh Emeka ‘M’ on the 23rd day of April, 2024, at No 144 Banks Avenue, in Enugu North Magisterial District, did by false pretence and with intent to defraud, obtain the total sum of one hundred and fifty (N150, 000) thousand naira from Chinyere Ogbonna, Onyinye Ugwu and other members of the neighborhood with the pretence to rectify their Enugu State Water Corporation bill, which you know to be false, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 386 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30 Vol 11, reversed Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria,” the charge sheet reads.

During the court proceedings, E.E Ezekwe, counsel to the defendant, prayed that the deputy director be granted bail since the charge is a bailable offence.

Onyinye Ugwu, legal officer at the office of the attorney-general of Enugu, opposed the bail application, adding that the offence is a serious one.

After the arguments, the magistrate granted Edoh bail in the sum of N500,000 with a surety, who must be an employee of ENSWC with grade level 14 or above.

The case was adjourned to May 22, 2024, for continuation of hearing.

‘BREACH OF PEACE’

In another development, the magistrate declined the bail application of four defendants who were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on felony, intent to intimidate and collect money from unsuspecting members of the public, and breach of peace.

The four defendants are Onyeka Nicholas, Okechukwu Umeh, Monday Udeh, and Tochukwu Ezeh.

The defendants were accused of creating illegal roadblocks to collect money from unsuspecting members of the public.

On April 23, the Enugu government announced a ban on all forms of illegal tolls and extortion of motorists by touts in the state.