Enugu
A civil servant, Stella Achara, has been arraigned before an Enugu State High Court over alleged N14million job fraud.
The accused, who is a staff of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, was yesterday, arraigned before Hon. Justice C. O. Ajah for adavanced fee fraud.
Stella, a principal secretary to the Medical Director of the Hospital, Dr Jojo Onwukwe, is facing charges bordering defrauding job seekers to the tune of N14million.
The charge read in part: “Stella Achara in or about the years 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 at Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu in the Enugu Judicial Division did by force pretences and with intent to defraud, obtain from one Nwatarah Hope “f”, Stella Egotanwa “f”, Ogbe Onyinye “f”, Nwufo Ifeoma “f” Aforka Clementina “f”, Ikemefuna Ebonyi “m”, Stella Onyeji “f” Mbah Loveth Ifeoma “f”, Okoh Perpetua “f”, Uche Onyia “f”, Egbo Nonye, Igbokwe Patricia “f” and Nwaizugbe Chioma “f” the total sum of N14 million, by falsely pretending that you have the power to procure employment for them and what you will employ them as staff of federal neuropsychiatric hospital, New Haven, Enugu, which presentation you knew to be false.”
Her conduct is said to have amounted to “obtaining property by false pretences contrary to section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under section 1 (3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud related offences act, No 14 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2006.”
When the case came up, the Prosecutor, Barr. Damian Njoku-Umeh, told the court that he had obtained a fiat from the Attorney General of Enugu State, Hon. Miletus Eze, to prosecute the matter.
The Defence Counsel, J.I. Isieke, did not object to the fiat, which was consequently admitted as an exhibit in the matter.
However, Isieke, who had earlier filed a motion for preliminary objection, said he needed time to respond to the counter motion filed by the prosecution.
