EFCC Drags Rhas Nigeria, CEO Liwa Sarirddine to Court Over Alleged N10m Dud Cheque
The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Rhas Nigeria Limited and its Managing Director, Liwa Sarirddine, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over the alleged issuance of a N10 million dud cheque.
The defendants appeared before Justice A.H. Musa on a one-count charge bordering on the alleged issuance of a dishonoured cheque in violation of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act.
According to the charge, the company and its director allegedly obtained credit worth N10 million from Ismail and Partners in 2020 through a cheque dated October 15, 2020. The EFCC alleged that when the cheque was presented for payment within the stipulated period, it was returned unpaid due to insufficient funds in the account on which it was drawn.
The anti-graft agency said the alleged act contravenes Section 1(1)(b) of the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act, Cap. D11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and is punishable under the relevant provisions of the Act.
When the charge was read in court, Sarirddine pleaded not guilty on behalf of himself and the company.
Following the plea, EFCC counsel, Mariya U. Shariff, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial. However, defence counsel applied for bail, a request the prosecution did not oppose.
Justice Musa subsequently granted Sarirddine bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that one of the sureties must be a Level 10 civil servant, while both sureties are required to depose to affidavits to be verified by the court registrar.
The matter was adjourned for the commencement of trial.
