A Chinese national, Zhang Wen Hao, has been arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Shekarau of the Nasarawa State High Court sitting in Mararaba over an alleged scheme involving the use of a bank account opened with a N1,000 inducement.
The case was disclosed in a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja Zonal Directorate.
Zhang was brought before the court on a one-count charge bordering on cheating. The anti-graft agency told the court that the defendant allegedly persuaded a Nigerian, Paul Yichol, to open a bank account with Access Bank for unlawful activity after offering him N1,000.
The charge read: “That you, Zhang Wen Hao sometime in March 2023 at Suleja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did intentionally induce Paul Yichol with One Thousand Naira only to open account number 1715754475 in his name with Access Bank PLC for the purpose of using same for unlawful activity and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 320 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria and punishable under Section 322 of the same Law.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel, Taiwo Aromolaran, asked the court to fix a date for trial, while defence counsel, Michael Ukatu, made an oral application seeking bail for his client.
Justice Shekarau adjourned the matter until March 12, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody.
