The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Chinese national, Zhang Wen Hao, before Justice Ibrahim Shekarau of the Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Mararaba over an alleged case of cheating.
Zhang was docked by the Abuja Zonal Directorate of the anti-graft agency on a one-count charge bordering on cheating.
According to the charge, the defendant allegedly induced one Paul Yichol with the sum of N1,000 to open a bank account in his name for suspected unlawful activities.
The charge reads: “That you, Zhang Wen Hao, sometime in March 2023 at Suleja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally induce Paul Yichol with One Thousand Naira only to open account number 1715754475 in his name with Access Bank Plc for the purpose of using same for unlawful activity and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria and punishable under Section 322 of the same Law.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Taiwo Aromolaran, requested the court to fix a date for the commencement of trial, while defence counsel, Michael Ukatu, made an oral application for bail on behalf of the defendant.
Justice Shekarau adjourned the matter until March 12, 2026 for hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody pending the determination of his bail request.
