Justice K. N. Ogbonnaya of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja yesterday convicted Yinka Bello and his company, Energy Fields Nigeria Limited for issuing a dud cheque, which is contrary to the Dishonored Cheques Offences Act Cap 102 laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
The charge against the defendants read: The charge reads; “That you Energy Fields Nigeria Limited on or about the 31st day of October 2016 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honorable court with knowledge that you had insufficient funds in your account issued to Habul Nigeria Limited a UBA Bank cheque no. 057080099 dated 31st October 2016 in the sum of N10, 000,000.00 being refund of money advanced to you by Habiba Umar Bello. This said cheque when presented for payment within 3 months of issuance was dishonored due to insufficient funds standing to the credit of the account to cover the face value of the cheque and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1(1)(a) of the Dishonored Cheques Offences Act Cap 102 laws of the Federation of Nigeria and Punishable under section 1(1)(b)(I)(II) of the same Act 2007”.
Bello was arrested and charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on March 29, 2021 and pleaded not guilty, which warranted his detain in a correctional centre.
However, after three months, the defendants entered into a plea bargain negotiation with the prosecution, leading to the amendment of the charge.
Based on his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Ijeabalum Diribe prayed the court to convict and sentence the defendant in line with the plea bargain agreement.
Justice Ogbonnaya convicted and sentenced Bello to a fine of N500, 000.00 and ordered him to refund the victim, the cumulative sum of N10m, being the value of the dishonored cheque.
Likewise, the court convicted Energy Fields Nigeria Limited to a fine of N500, 000.
