Four in court over fraud plot

Four people, one of them a police officer, have appeared in court charged with trying to defraud an east London education trust of £90,000.

The officer, Pc Curtis Nwadikwa-Jonathan, and his wife 36-year-old wife Edith, will appear with two others at Middlesex Guildhall on 27 November.

The allegations concern a fund administered by The Learning Trust, a not-for-profit company set up by the government last year to run education in Hackney.

Pc Nwadikwa-Jonathan, 37, who is based at Newham Police Station in east London, has been suspended pending the outcome of criminal proceedings.

Benefits charge

He and his wife are charged with conspiring to defraud the Learning Trust and to cause misconduct in a public office.

The officer also faces two further deception charges and driving without insurance.

Mrs Nwadikwa is also charged with obtaining £12,000 in benefits by deception from the London borough of Enfield.

A finance support officer at the trust, Uche Wogu, 37, of Frederick Crescent, Enfield, north London, has been charged with conspiracy to defraud and to cause misconduct in a public office.

Immigration claim

A nurse, Chinny Ejiogu, 35, of Stepney Causeway, faces the same charges.

All four appeared at Horseferry Road Magistrates Court on Friday and were granted conditional bail.

A 49-year-old police staff member was been arrested in connection with an allegation of perverting the course of justice.

He has been suspended pending the result of the investigation.

A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences. Both were released on police bail.