By Vincent Ujumadu

Awka—THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, yesterday, arraigned a former community leader of Uruoji Nri in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Emma Emelife, on a 13-count charge for allegedly embezzling N64 million belonging to his community.

After hearing the bail application for Emelife, who has been in the custody of EFCC, the presiding judge, Justice D. A. Onyefulu, fixed Monday next week to rule on the bail application.

The people of Uruoji village had petitioned EFCC over an allegation that Emelife defrauded them of N64 million being contributions made by the villagers for development purposes, while he was the chairman of the village.

Counsel to the community, Mr. Anthony Nwokoli, said when Emelife was asked to account for the money, he rebuffed them.

Nwokoli also lamented the action of EFCC officials in the matter and demanded the replacement of the EFCC counsel.

He said: “The prosecutor is not liaising with us who are the complainants. This, to us, contravenes the legal procedure. He is supposed to be liaising with the complainant’s lawyer in the matter, but he has not been doing that.”