A Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Prince Benedict Benjamin Apugo who is facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for fraudulent sale of land belonging to the Nigeria Railway Corporation.
The warrant was issued Thursday, October 8, 2015 by Justice F. A. Olubanjo following the failure of the accused to attend his trial after he was granted administrative bail by the EFCC.
Apugo is alleged to have fraudulently sold six plots of land valued at N36m belonging to the Nigeria Railway Cooperation, to the petitioner.
In the course of investigation, the accused was invited and made statement under caution. He was subsequently released on administrative bail.
He was due to be arraigned on a three count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, but became elusive and all attempts to serve him the charge were futile.
When the case was called on October 8, Apugo was not present to take his plea but his counsel filed a notice of preliminary objection to the charge on the grounds that the charge is incompetent and failed to disclose a prima-facie case against the accused.
Justice Olubanjo however issued a Bench Warrant for his arrest and adjourned the case to November 2, 2015.
Apugo was said to have in March 2013 in Umuahia, Abia State with intent to defraud obtained the sum of N6 million from one Obioma Nehemiah Isiuwa, by falsely represented himself through his agent, Adline Victor ‎Nkwo, to be the owner of six plots of land valued at N36 million located at the House of Assembly Road by Ochendo By-pass in Umunwulari Nkata Ibeku layout.
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