The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Rufus Collins Emmanuel before Justice H.I.O. Oshomah of the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on a 2-count charge bordering on forgery.
Specifically, Emmanuel was arrested by operatives of the EFCC for forging a deposit slip of First Bank of Nigeria plc and presented it as a valid proof of transaction to a businessman in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Count one of the charge read: “that you Rufus Collins Emmanuel on or about the 6th day of June, 2014, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did make a forged document to wit “FIRST BANK DEPOSIT SLIP NO. 0134705” knowing same to be false and with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous offences Act, Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Adebayo Soares asked for a trial date. However, counsel to the defendant, I. O. Briggs, made an oral application for bail which was not granted. He was asked to apply formally.
Justice Oshomah adjourned the case to June 15, 2017 for bail hearing and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of his bail.
