By Francis Wilfred
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Chief Executive Officer of Ski Hi-Entertainment, Ifeanyichukwu Ogbu, before the Enugu State High Court over an alleged N16.8 million fraud involving the issuance of dud cheques. Ogbu was brought before Justice Vincent C. Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a three-count charge bordering on the issuance of dishonoured cheques amounting to N16,847,000.
According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly issued cheques that were later returned unpaid due to insufficient funds in the account on which they were drawn. The anti-graft agency accused him of issuing the cheques with intent to defraud, an offence punishable under the Dishonoured Cheques (Offences) Act. One of the charges stated that Ogbu, trading under the name and style of Ski Hi-Entertainment, issued a Zenith Bank cheque dated August 9, 2024, in the sum of N5.53 million.
The commission alleged that when the cheque was presented for payment within the stipulated period, it was dishonoured because there were insufficient funds in the account. When the charges were read to him, Ogbu pleaded not guilty to all counts. Following the plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II) Michael Ikechukwu Ani, requested the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending further proceedings.
However, defence counsel, Chikelu Anya, attempted to make an oral application for his client’s bail. The court declined to entertain the application, reminding counsel that it is a court of record and that such applications should be properly filed.Justice Ezeugwu subsequently adjourned the matter until July 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application. The court, however, released the defendant to his counsel with a directive that he must be produced in court on the next adjourned date.
The EFCC disclosed that the case stemmed from a petition by Oby Onwuakor, Sales and Front Office Manager of Ski Hi-Entertainment, acting on behalf of the company’s management. The petition alleged that Ogbu made accommodation reservations for members of three Nigerian Premier Football League clubs at a hotel.
According to the complainant, the teams accumulated bills totaling N17.42 million during their stay. Ogbu was said to have paid only N1 million and subsequently issued three cheques to settle the outstanding balance. The cheques were reportedly dishonoured upon presentation due to insufficient funds, prompting the petition and eventual investigation by the EFCC.
