By Austin Ogwuda

Enugu—A middle-aged man, Anthony Eze, has appeared before a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu for allegedly luring members of the public to deposit their monies into his voodoo bank, with mouth-watering promise of high interests return.

He was arrested and arraigned by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an 11-count charge of diverting deposited funds to personal use through a purported investment company he floated.

The prosecution stated that customers, who deposited N26,000 per slot for two months were to get N6,000 interest, while those who signed a long term of three years would be given N30,000 per slot.

Part of the charge read: “That you Eze Mark Anthony, Managing Director of Dominus Vobiscum Investment Limited on or about August 11, 2011, in Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court transacted business without valid license from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

“Thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58 of the Banks & Other Financial Institutions Act Cap B3, Laws of the Federation, 2004 and punishable under Section 59 (6) of the same Act.

“That you, Eze Mark Anthony, being a Director of Dominus Vobiscum Investment Limited sometime between June to August 2011, in Enugu State with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N3,048,000 from Okeke Valentine by false pretence when you presented yourself as an investment company capable of paying high returns on the said investment.

“Which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(I) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud & Other Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section (3) of the same Act.”

When the case was called up, the accused pleaded not guilty.

The defense counsel, Mr. J.O. Nwatu, move for bail application was resisted by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Mainforce Ekwu, who told the court that he was just being served.

The case was adjourned to March 16 for hearing of the bail application.