A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Jabi, Abuja has issued an arrest warrant against the Deputy Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu, over his alleged involvement in a N75million fraud.
Justice Charles Agbaza, in a ruling on Thursday, directed the Commander of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) headquarters, Abuja to execute the arrest warrant.
Justice Agabza issued the orders following Iwuanyanwu’s failure to appear in court to answer to the four-count charge filed against him by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
In the charge marked: CR/230/201, Iwuanyanwu and a firm, Sungold Estate Ltd were alleged to have defrauded Wanogan Farm Ltd to the tune of N75m by allegely making dishonest and fraudulent claims in respect of a property known as “Heroes Place, Plot 145 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja.
At the mention of the case on Thursday, Iwuanyanwu was absent in court. But, his lawyer, Nabal Ominigbo apologised for his absence.
Ominigbo, who claimed that his client was suffering from some health challenges, was unable to present any medical report to support his claim when the judge requested for one.
Angered by Ominigbo’s inability to support his claim with material evidence, Justice Agbaza note the the defendant was acting as if he was above the law having ben served with hearing notices on three occasions, and yet he failed to attend court.
In his submission, prosecuting lawyer, Umoh Inah Inah recalled that following Iwuanyanwu’s absence on the last date, the court issued a bench warrant against the defendant, who was later arrested at the Owerri airport by Inspector Godwin Tanko of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
Inah said the intervention of security personnel attended to Imo State Government House frustrated the defendant’s arrested and movement to Abuja for the purpose of his being arraigned.
He prayed the court for a fresh arrest warrant to be directed at the Commander of the IRT, Abuja for easy execution.
Ominigbo said he was not opposed to the prosecution’s application for a fresh arrest warrant, but prayed the court to be afforded one more opportunity to produce the defendant in court on the next adjourned date, failing which the arrest warrant could be activated.
Ruling, Justice Agabza rejected Ominigbo’s prayer and noted that Iwuanyanwu’s continued absence was disrespectful of the court, adding that no court allows such impudence.
The judge proceeded to issue the fresh arrest warrant, as requested by the prosecution, and ordered the Commander, IRT, Abuja to arrest Iwuanyanwu and produce him in court on the next adjourned date.
He then adjourned till January 13 next year for arraignment.
The counts in the charge reads:
“That you Amarachi Chyna Iwuanyanwu, ‘m’ 36yrs and you SunGold Estate Ltd, on the 14th day of July, 2017, and on the 18th day of July 2017 you fraudulently conspired to wit: defrauded your victim, one Wanogan Farm Ltd to the sum of N75,000,000.00 transferred into your company’s account with account no. 0069177706, Access Bank, you thereby commit an offence of criminal conspiracy punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Law.
“That you Amarachi Chyna Iwauanyanwu ‘Mm’ 36yrs, and SunGold Estate Ltd, that on the 14th day of July, 2017, you dishonestly and fraudulently represented a property of Heroes Place, Plot 145 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, as your own, and upon such representation the sum of N75,000,000.00 was paid into your company’s account, with account No. 0069177706, Access Bank, you thereby commit an offence dishonest or fraudulent execution of deed of transfer containing false statement of consideration punishable under Section 177 of the Penal Code Law.
“That you Amarachi Chyna lwuanyanwu ‘m’ 36yrs and you Sungold Estate Ltd, that on the 14th day of July 2017, the sum of N75,000,000.00 was transferred into your company’s account No. 0069177706 Access Bank PLC, for purchase of properties, which your victim believe and trusted your representation, but after transferring the said amount such representation turns out to be false, you thereby commit an offence of criminal breach of trust, punishable under Section 312 of Penal Code Law.
“That you Amarachi Chyna |lwuanyanwu ‘m’ 36yrs, and you SunGold Estate Ltd, that on the 14th day of July, 2017 and the 18th day of July 2017 the sum of N75,000,000.00 was transferred into your company’s account No. 0069177706 Access Bank PLC, upon your representation to your victim that you are the rightful owner of Heroes Place Shop situate at Plot 145 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent Wuse 2, Abuja. But after payment to your account, such representation turn out to be false, you thereby commit an offence of cheating, punishable under section 322 of the Penal Code Law.