A Kaduna State High
Court presided over by Justice Mohammed Aliyu, has refused bail of Chimela
Darlington, a suspected serial fraudster being prosecuted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, who parades himself as one of the
contractors working on National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, in Taraba
State, and duping unsuspecting victims of several millions of naira.
Darlington, through
his counsel, Tony Mozie, had after his arraignment on December 4, 2014 filed an
application for bail pending the determination of the case as the offence was a
bailable one.
Mozie argued that the accused is presumed
innocent until proven guilty and urged the court to exercise its discretion to
his favour.
In response, counsel
to EFCC, Charlotte Dennis told the court that Darlington’s integrity is
doubtful as he had failed to honour the terms of administrative bail earlier
granted him by the Commission. “When he was granted administrative bail, he
couldn't meet up and the accused did not comply with section 341(2) of the
Criminal Procedure Code”, Dennis said.
The prosecuting
counsel further stated that the accused person might frustrate his trial if
admitted to bail and urged the court to refuse the application.
In his ruling,
Justice Aliu held that for a crime exceeding three years, the accused must
satisfy the conditions brought by section 341(2) of the Criminal Procedure
Code. He added that the accused must also assure the court that he will not
commit another crime.
According to Justice
Aliu, the applicant has not shown any cause to these conditions. He
consequently refused the application. The case has been fixed for February 12, 2015
for hearing.
Darlington, who goes
by various names, including Daniel Promise, Eze Ihemere Eze, Chimela Ihechemere
Eze, Michael Imodu, operates as syndicate with Daniel Akintunde, Comrade Obong
Goodluck, and some others still at large to obtain money from Jerome Aseiza
David, under false pretence, claiming to be contractors and electrical engineers,
who have been awarded a federal government contract to install electrical
equipment in Taraba State.
The accused and his
cronies succeeded in duping David to the tune of N1.2million.
Source: EFCC Website
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