The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Port Harcourt Zone, has arraigned Blessing Webilor Nchelem and her daughter-in-law, Deborah Jack before the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The two women were arraigned before Justice Ajoku on a two-count charge of defrauding Senibo Richmond Opusunju of N6 million in a land sale scam at Rumuapu, Rukpokwo Obio/Akpor Local Council of Rivers State.
One of the counts read: “That you, Deborah Jack, Blessing Webilor Nchelem, Chimenem Peter Webilor (now at large) between November 15, 2022 and March 21, 2023 in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud, did obtain in a single transaction, N6 million only from Senibo Richmond Opusunju as consideration for the sale of three plots of land, located at Rumuapu, Rukpokwo Obio/Akpor Local Council of Rivers State, a pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act.”
They, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charge when it was read to them.
Consequently, the prosecuting counsel, E. K. Esien-Otu, prayed the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial and for the defendants to be remanded in the custody of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS).
But the defendants’ counsel, S. O. Aburu, orally applied to the court to grant the defendants bail to enable them prepare for their trial.
Justice Ajoku declined the oral bail application and asked the defendants’ counsel to make a formal bail application.
The judge ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC’s custody.
Recall that the defendants were arrested when a petitioner alleged that in October 2022, he was introduced by his son to one of the defendants, Peter Webilor, who claimed to be a property agent and had two plots of land for sale, located at Rumuapu and Rukpokwu, Obi/Akpor Local Council of Rivers State, for which he later paid N6 million into the bank account of one of the defendants, Deborah Jack.
The petitioner, however, found out after payment that he could not take possession of the properties, as a different person came out and claimed genuine ownership of the properties. Since then, all efforts by the petitioner to recover his money met a brick wall.
