Abuja - Six persons have appeared before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court on allegations of counterfeiting U.S. dollars and cheating.

They are Onyebuchi Okoye, 28; Emeka Eze, 32, Azubuike Nnaji, 35, Emmanuel Imade, 28; Kelechi Andrew, 29, and Michael Agah, 25, all of Kurudu village, Abuja.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Ali Otijele, told the court that the accused formed a common intention and produced fake U.S. dollars with carbon paper and used same to cheat one John Anthony of N23,000.

Otijele said following a complaint by Anthony, the accused were arrested on October 12.
He said the police found 54 fake U.S. dollars notes and the carbon papers used in producing them during investigations.

“You all thereby committed the above mentioned offences punishable under Sections 433 and 322 of the Penal Code,” Otijele said.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and urged the court to grant them bail as they had been in police detention for some three weeks.

The prosecutor, however, prayed the court to refuse them bail, adding that the offence with which they had been charged, was “not ordinarily bailable.”

He argued that the accused might either jump bail or hinder investigations.

Otijele reminded the court that the offence carries life imprisonment upon conviction.

Chief Magistrate Hafsat Soso remanded the accused in prison custody, pending the conclusion of investigation.

Soso adjourned the case to December 16.