Proprietor collects N26.6m, fails to register pupils for WASSCE

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a school proprietor, Oshi Luke, before Justice A. O. Onovo of the Enugu State High Court, Nsukka, Enugu State, on 10 counts of stealing.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said the accused allegedly connived with three employees of his school, OBFO International Academy, and collected N46, 000 each from 580 candidates as the registration fee for the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, May/June 2012 examination, but failed to register the pupils for the said examination.

The commission said the action was contrary to Section 342 of the revised Criminal Code of Enugu State and punishable under Section 353(g) of the same Act.

One of the charges reads, “That you, Oshi Joel Luke and OBFO international Academy sometime between the months of September and November, 2012, with intent to defraud, stole N30,000, property of one Agba Susan, by fraudulently converting the said sum which was paid to you through Ajah Ndidiamaka into OBFO International Academy First Bank account No:2008346092 as registration fees for the 2012 May/June West African Examination Council/National Examination Council examination to your use and thereby committed an offence.”

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N500, 000 with a surety in like sum.

Onovo said the surety must show evidence of tax clearance for the past three years and must submit two passport photographs for verification.

The case was adjourned to April 29, 2014 for trial.

In a related development, the accused was also arraigned before Justice N. Ageshi of the Federal High Court, Enugu, Enugu State.

He was arraigned on11counts that bordered on obtaining money under false pretences.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Attempt by the defence counsel, J. O. Mba, to request bail for his client was opposed by prosecuting counsel, A. Moses.

Ageshi adjourned the case till April 4, 2014 for hearing on the bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in EFCC custody.