Eric Patrick
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday arraigned Jesam Michael and his company, Afriq Arbiq Arbitrage System Limited, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for alleged investment scam.
They were arraigned on a seven- count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretence, operating without a licence and fraud.
The commission in a statement shared on its Facebook page on Friday said Michael pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
The count charge read, that you JESAM MICHEAL UBI and AFRIQ ARBIQ ARBITRAGE SYSTEM LIMITED between September 2022 and June, 2023 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court whilst not being a bank or person authorized to take deposits invited the public through advertisement to deposit funds with AFRIQ ARBITRAGE SYSTEM LIMITED and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 44 (1) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and punishable under Section 44 (2) of the same Act.
In view of the plea, the prosecuting counsel prayed the court for a trial date.
Defense counsel, Uchenna Njoku, SAN called the attention of the court to the bail application of the client.
READ ALSO:Â EFCC Detains Crypto Fraud Suspects, Court to Rule June 30
According to the Commission, the EFCC counsel informed the court of a counter affidavit urging the court to deny the defendant bail on the ground that he may not make himself available for trial due to the gravity of the offence charged and the weight of the evidence against him.
EFCC added that, l there is a strong likelihood that he may seek to suborn witnesses given the weight of evidence and nature of offence.
Justice Egwuatu denied the defendant bail and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Center till the date of his trial.
Micheal journey to the correctional center started when the Commission received multiple petitions from victims who deposited funds with the company under the pretense of providing investment opportunities
The matter was adjourned to June 20, 2025 for trial.