Court denies Dutch couple bail over $330,000 oil vessel fraud in Nigeria

*The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a Dutch national and his wife before a Federal High Court, in Port Harcourt, on two counts charge of fraud and felony for allegedly defrauding two Nigerian firms a sum of a sum of $330,000

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

For purportedly defrauding two Nigerian firms a sum of $330,000 meant for the purchase of a marine oil vessel, a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, has denied Pieter Borremans, a Dutch national, and Nkechi, his wife, bail after they were remanded in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The High Court Thursday, March 18 also ordered the couple’s transfer to the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, The Punch report said.

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency had arraigned the couple for apparently defrauding two firms of $330,000 intended for the purchase of a marine oil vessel.

The two persons and their firm, Lagon Trade Limited, March 2, 2021, were arraigned by the EFCC before Justice E. A. Obile on two counts of fraud and felony.

The defendants were accused of allegedly swindling their victims; Jackkyson Multi Services Limited and Alot General Services Limited, the sum of $330,000 which was an upfront part payment for the purchase of a marine tanker vessel.

However, the bail application of the defendants suffered a setback Thursday, as their counsel, C. A. Akwanya, who held brief for H. E. Chukwu, applied for their bail application withdrawal, which the presiding judge granted, report stated.

Before the denial of the couple’s bail application, two counsels, D. N. Eziokwu and Chukwu, had appeared in court to represent the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants (Pieter Borremans, his wife, Nkechi and Lagon Trade Limited).

While D. N. Eziokwu told the court that his colleague C. A. Okwanya had applied for the withdrawal of the defendants’ bail application, Chukwu argued that the withdrawal of the defendants’ bail application was filed outside his consent.

Meanwhile, counsel for the EFCC, Friday Amama, did not oppose the withdrawal of the defendants’ bail application.

Justice Obile, following the arguments of counsels, ordered that the defendants, who were earlier, remanded at the detention facility of the EFCC, be moved to the Port Harcourt Correctional Service facility and adjourned the matter till March 31, 2021, for hearing, according to report.