Ericbona Eliom Ushie, a politician from Cross River State, has been remanded in prison custody by the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
Ushie, who contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries for the House of Representatives in Cross River State, is facing criminal charges, including stealing and fraud, before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Ushie on a 13-count charge bordering on obtaining under false pretense, contrary to sections (1a) and 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related Offenses Act, (2006) as amended.
One of the charges against Ushie accuses him of stealing the sum of N35.397 million under false pretenses related to securing a contract award from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Ushie pleaded not guilty to the charges. The prosecutor, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, informed the court that the prosecution would present 13 witnesses during the trial.
The defense counsel, Ms. C. Orji, filed a bail application, stating that Ushie was not a flight risk and should be granted bail.
However, Justice Abike-Fadipe denied the request for bail and ordered that Ushie be remanded in prison custody until February 22, when the bail application would be ruled upon.
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