Reverend sister docked for allegedly defrauding students of N8.25 million exam fees

A Reverend Sister and Principal of School of Nursing, Umulogho in Imo, Eberechukwu Nwachukwu, was on Tuesday arraigned in Owerri for allegedly defrauding 25 students of N8.25 million.

Ms. Nwachukwu is facing a nine-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and threat to life at an Obowo Magistrates’ Court.

The students had reported a case of fraud against the school principal at the Police Area Command in Okigwe sometime in March.

The students, in their petition, claimed that each of them paid N330,000 to the school management for Nursing and Midwifery Council Examinations, but their names were not forwarded to the appropriate quarters for the examination.

The police prosecutor, Emmanuel Wonah, said the offences contravened provisions of the Criminal Code, Laws of Imo.

Giving evidence at the trial, one of the complainants, Amarachi Wokenna, told the court that she paid a total of N330,000 to the school management as registration fee for the Nursing and Midwifery Council Examination.

She said the principal acknowledged the payment by issuing a receipt to her.

Ms. Wokenna said surprisingly the principal refused to forward her name to the council for the exam which held in April.

Ms. Nwachukwu, however, denied the charges.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, M. O. Onyeweotu, granted her N500,000 bail with two sureties and adjourned the case until June 29 for continuation of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the accused will remain behind bars pending when her bail condition will be perfected.

(NAN)