Police Arrest Neuropsychiatric Hospital Staff for Allegedly Defrauding Job Seekers

The police in Enugu State yesterday re-arrested Mrs. Stella Achalla, the Principal Secretary to Dr. Jojo Onwukwe, Managing Director, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu for allegedly defrauding some job-seekers of undisclosed sums of money.

Achalla was picked up on her way to the church service following several petitions against her at the Enugu State Police Command headquarters.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the arrests to journalists noting that “yes, she was arrested this morning based on several petitions against her.

“The petitions border on fraudulent activities. She has to answer for them and our criminal investigation department has commenced full scale investigation into the allegations,” Amaraizu noted in a statement.

The hospital secretary has been standing trial before an Enugu East Chief Magistrate Court on charges bordering on obtaining money under false pretense.

She and her alleged accomplice, Mrs. Stella Egotanwa, were arraigned on two counts charge bothering on obtaining money under false pretence, an offence punishable under section 495 (a) and section 386 of the criminal code, cap 30, laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2014.

The police later returned to the same court, presided over by Chioke Angela with a fresh charge, which borders on advanced fee fraud.

They were alleged to have collected money ranging from N350,000 to N600,000 from some job seekers, with a promise of giving them employment.