Two Catholic priests arrested by EFCC and charged with 419 offences at Awka court

CATHOLIC clergymen Reverend Father Silas Nweke and Reverend Father EC Obiorah have been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly attempting to swindle some people in a cement deal.

 

Arraigned before a Federal High Court in Awka, the Anambra State capital, both priests were arraigned on 35 counts in suit number FHC/Awka/75C/2012, bordering on obtaining by false pretences, popularly known as 419. At the hearing, the EFCC was represented by two prosecution counsels Joshua Saidi and Henry Anaso, while N H Osunkwo represented the first accused person and C J Asiegbu represented the second accused.

 

Mr Osunkwo, the counsel for Father Nweke challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter, contending that the matter had been heard at different times at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Mr Asiegbu, the counsel for Father Obiorah, in turn, told the court that a state high court in Awka had delivered a judgment on the matter in which the Holy Family Group of Companies and the accused persons were defendants.

 

In an unprecedented suit, the two catholic priests were accused of obtaining money by false pretences among other charges. It is alleged that they collected huge sums of money from certain persons and issued them dud cheques, using the name of Holy Family Group of Companies in a cement deal, some years ago.