One of the suspects, Precious Orji Nnachi, was a Technical Assistant to Governor David Umahi.
The trio asserted moved toward Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State December 2019 guaranteeing they were agents of an outside organization and had $125 million to provide for the State Government.
They purportedly told the Governor that the condition for the smooth receipt of the award was if there was up to $10 million in the State Government's United Bank Africa account.
As indicated by Umahi, while transferring his involvement in the suspects, "Something played out today. Some gathering of individuals in the previous two months said they have $125 million to give us.
I told my Commissioner for Finance that it doesn't sound genuine. I know promptly that it was a trick yet my official for money kept pushing guiltlessly.
"In light of his conviction that it is genuine, I instructed him to proceed.
They said they were financial specialists and that they have cash to provide for us for nothing out of pocket. They said we ought to bring $125 million US dollars.
Also, out of the cash, they will just take $25 million dollars to build up our place while the rest of the $100million US dollars will be our own.
"I said what is my own. They can even take half in the event that they need and give us even 1million dollars, since it is an awards.
I disclosed to them that, if this cash is a flush cash, Ebonyi State Government won't be considered mindful. The adventure started. They said that we should show proof of $10 million dollars in our record."
The suspects, whose names were given as Precious Orji Nnachi, Obinna Agummuo and Chuks Ajunwa, supposedly dedicated the offense at Umunaga town, Uburu people group, in the Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state, on December 30, 2019.
They were summoned on Thursday, at the Magistrate's Court on six checks pestering on lawful offense, endeavor to dupe, among others.
The Service's Prosecutor, C.P. Njoku, told the court that the offense was culpable under segments 516A (a), 509 and 484 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
The charge read to some extent, " That you Precious Orji Nnachi, Obinna Agummuo and Chuks Ajunwa, on the 30th day of December, 2019, at Umunaga Uburu in the Ohaozara Local Government Area, under the ward of Abakaliki Magisterial District, planned among yourselves to perpetrate lawful offense indeed: Attempt to swindle and in this manner carried out an offense in spite of segment 516A (an) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, of Nigeria, 2009.
"That you Precious Orji Nnachi, Obinna Agummuo and Chuks Ajunwa, on the 30th day of December, 2019, at Umunaga Uburu in the Ohaozara LGA, under Abakaliki Magisterial District endeavored to cheat the Government of Ebonyi State of the entirety of Ten Million Dollars (USD10,000,000.00), adding up to Three Billion Six Hundred Million Naira (N3,600,000,000.00) through a case which you had no goal or ability to impact and along these lines carried out an offense culpable under area 509 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33., Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
"That you Precious Orji Nnachi, being a Technical Assistant to the Governor of Ebonyi State, on the 30th day of December, 2019, at Umunaga Uburu, in the Ohaozara LGA, under Abakaliki Magisterial District, corruptly endeavored to get from the Government of Ebonyi State of the aggregate of Twenty Five Million Dollars (USD25,000,000.00), as a prize and in this manner carried out an offense contray to area 494 (1)(a) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009."
The Chief Magistrate, Nnanna Onuoha, allowed the blamed people bail in the aggregate for N500 million each, with three sureties in like total.
As per her, the sureties must have properties worth N500 million and must present Certificate-of-Occupancy of the said properties, to the court.
The issue was dismissed till February 5, 2020, for hearing.
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