EFCC arraigns entertainment CEO over alleged N16.8m dud cheque

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned the Chief Executive Officer of Ski Hi-Entertainment, Ifeanyichukwu Ogbu, before the Enugu State High Court over an alleged N16.8m fraud involving the issuance of dud cheques.

The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a statement shared on its official X account on Monday.

According to the EFCC, Ogbu was arraigned before Justice Vincent Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a three-count charge bordering on the issuance of dud cheques amounting to N16,847,000.

The commission quoted one of the charges as saying, “That you, Ifeanyichukwu Ogbu, trading under name and style of Ski Hi-Entertainment, on or about the 9th day of August, 2024 in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, issued a Zenith Bank Plc cheque… in the sum of Five Million, Five Hundred and Thirty Thousand Naira (N5,530,000.00) which upon presentation for payment within three months of issuance was dishonoured on the ground of insufficient funds in the account on which the cheque was drawn.”

The EFCC said the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

It added that its counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, thereafter prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

The statement noted that the defence counsel, Chikelu Anya, made an oral application for bail but was reminded by the court that it is a court of record.

The commission stated, ” Justice Ezeugwu thereafter adjourned the matter to July 16, 2026 for hearing of bail application while the defendant was released to Anya to be produced in court on the next adjourned date.”

According to the EFCC, Ogbu’s arrest followed a petition by Oby Onwuakor, the Sales/Front Office Manager of Ski Hi-Entertainment, on behalf of the hotel’s management.

The agency said the petition alleged that Ogbu made reservations for members of three Nigeria Premier Football League clubs, with the total hotel bill amounting to N17,424,600 after their stay.

The EFCC added that the defendant allegedly paid N1m and issued three cheques for the outstanding balance, but the cheques were dishonoured upon presentation due to insufficient funds in the account.