The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Chief Executive Officer of Ski Hi-Entertainment, Ifeanyichukwu Ogbu, before the Enugu State High Court over an alleged N16.8 million fraud linked to the issuance of dud cheques.
Ogbu was brought before Justice Vincent Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a three-count charge bordering on the alleged issuance of dishonoured cheques valued at N16,847,000.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges alleged that the defendant, trading under the name and style of Ski Hi-Entertainment, fraudulently issued a Zenith Bank cheque worth N5.53 million on August 9, 2024.
The commission said the cheque was returned unpaid when presented for payment because there were insufficient funds in the account.
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The anti-graft agency said Ogbu pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his plea, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC Michael Ikechukwu Ani, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Defence counsel, Chikelu Anya, made an oral application for bail. However, the court reminded counsel that bail applications should be properly filed, being a court of record.
Justice Ezeugwu subsequently adjourned the matter until July 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and released the defendant to his counsel, who was directed to ensure his appearance in court on the adjourned date.
The EFCC said the prosecution stemmed from a petition submitted by Oby Onwuakor, Sales and Front Office Manager of Ski Hi-Entertainment, on behalf of the hotel’s management.
According to the commission, the petition alleged that Ogbu reserved accommodation for members of three Nigeria Premier Football League clubs, leaving the hotel with a total bill of N17,424,600 after their stay.
Investigators alleged that while the defendant paid N1 million, he issued three cheques to offset the outstanding balance.
The EFCC said the cheques were later dishonoured by the bank due to insufficient funds in the account, prompting the criminal charges.