EFCC Arraigns One for Alleged Currency Racketeering in Enugu

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 arraigned one Nwachukwu Ifeanyi, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.

Ifeanyi was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on currency racketeering and operating a bureau de change business without an appropriate licence.

Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Nwachukwu Ifeanyi, sometime in February 2024, at Douglas Road, Owerri, imo State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, hawked the total sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500, 000. 00) mints in Five Hundred Naira (500) denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act”.

He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him. In view of his plea, Christiana Chioma Igwe, counsel to the EFCC prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.

However, defence counsel, U. E. Ibekwe informed the court about a pending bail application before it. He  attempted to move the said application but was vehemently opposed by Igwe on the grounds that “the prosecution was just served this morning and we need time to respond my Lord. It is not ripe for hearing my Lord"

After listening to both sides,  Justice  Umar adjourned the matter to June 4, 2024 for hearing of bail application while the defendant was remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.

Ifeanyi was arrested  on February 9, 2024  by members of the Special Task Force of the Commission following credible intelligence linking him to currency racketeering.

Investigations revealed that Ifeanyi  used his shop, located at 98 Douglas Road, Owerri, Imo State to hawk new Naira notes. He was arrested at his shop with Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,0. 00) mints in Five Hundred Naira (500) denomination.

 

Source: EFCC 

How EFCC Arraigns Forex Broker for Alleged N112m Fraud in Enugu

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned one Daniel Chukwuka Koussou, a forex broker before Justice C. O. Ajah of the State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.

 

He was arraigned  on a one-count charge bordering on criminal conversion and stealing to the tune of N112, 800, 800. 00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Eight Hundred Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira).

 

The lone count charge reads; “That you, Daniel Chuwuka Koussou sometime in July 2022, in Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your own use the sum of N112, 800, 800. 00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Eight Hundred Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira), property of Chinedu Igbokwe and thereby committed an offence”.

 

The offence is contrary to Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30 of the Laws of Enugu State and punishable under Section 353 (1) of the same Law.

 

The defendant pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him.

 

In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Ahmad Yusuf Abdullahi prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.

 

However, the defence counsel, Ogechukwu Agbo informed the court about a motion on notice for bail for her client.  Abdullahi vehemently opposed the said application on the grounds that “the defendant might jump bail considering the weight of the allegation my lord”.

 

After listening to both sides, Justice Ajah granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50, 000, 000. 00 (Fifty Million Naira) and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must be resident within jurisdiction. They must swear an affidavit of means, show evidence of tax payment for the past three years, deposit two full size photographs, be public servants of not less than Grade Level 16 and they must be verified in writing by the prosecution.

 

The defendant was thereafter remanded at the Enugu State Correctional facility pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

 

 Koussou was arrested following claims of a petitioner who alleged that he sent $276, 000 to the defendant, a supposed agent for Providus Bank, to convert into Naira and return same.

 

According to the petitioner, on July 6, 2022, Providus Bank paid Koussou the full money in Naira but the defendant sent part-payment of N21, 759, 771 to him (the petitioner) and diverted the rest for his personal use.  All efforts made to get him to pay up proved abortive.

 

Source: EFCC 

EFCC Arrests 23 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested twenty-three (23) suspected internet fraudsters in Enugu State.

The suspects were arrested on May 10, 2024 in Igboeze, Nsukka and Enugu metropolis following actionable intelligence concerning their alleged online criminal activities.

Items recovered from them include; three cars, mobile phones, laptops, one Point Of Sale (POS) machine and several incriminating documents.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded 

Source: EFCC

STATEMENT: NIGERIAN ARMY DID NOT CONFISCATE PROPERTY OF ENUGU RESIDENT, IT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO THE NA

The Nigerian Army (NA) has been notified of a viral petition written by the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN) alleging that 82 Division of the NA is threatening to forcefully and unlawfully take over a property situated at Plot 30, Abakaliki Road, Enugu, which includes No. 7 Abakaliki Lane in the Government Residential Area (GRA) of Enugu State. 

The NA wishes to state that the  petition, which  also posits that 82 Division, in defiance to a letter from the office of the Chief of Army Staff decided to take the law into its hand and supplant the rule of law, is completely unfounded and intended to tarnish the ongoing efforts of the NA to restore peace and tranquility in the South East Region. 

It is therefore necessary to set the record straight  in order not to mislead the public. It must be first  acknowledged that  the historical ownership and legal documentation of the controversial property predates the current dispute. 

Available official records indicate that immediately after the end of the Nigerian civil war, the Military Governors/Administrators of Enugu State allocated 36 properties to the Nigerian Army (NA) to address the accommodation needs of officers in the 82 Division. These properties were acknowledged by  Enugu State Government as belonging to the Federal Government and by extension the NA on 14 April 2008. Accordingly the State Government initiated a proposal for an ownership  exchange of the properties. In the terms of agreement of the proposal, the NA was to release 26 of the said properties to the State Government  and in return, the State Government  would construct alternative accommodations within the Abakpa Military Cantonment for the NA.

The property in question, Plot 30, Abakaliki Road, was among the 36 properties allocated to the NA, but was not part of the 26 properties involved in the proposed exchange with the State Government. The Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued by the State Government to Barrister Ogbodo Nana on 22 November, 2022, is defective as  the C of O was granted without a proper revocation of the original title held by the Nigerian Army, which would be a necessary legal step to change ownership.

Furthermore,  in April 2023, Colonel Ugwuoke (retired) was ejected from House No 7 Abakaliki Lane, after it was discovered that he had attempted to acquire the property through the State Government without proper authorization. The subsequent sale of a portion of the land to the current claimant, Barrister Ogbodo Nana, was done without the consent or approval of the NA, which would have been required for a lawful transaction.

The NA is a disciplined institution that respects human rights and the rule of law. We urge the public to disregard the narrative that suggests the NA is acting unlawfully or without respect for due process. The NA's position is that the property remains under its ownership, until proven otherwise through appropriate legal channels, and any claims to the contrary are based on misinformation.

Consequently the NA calls for a thorough investigation and due process to resolve the matter, and it stands ready to present its evidence of ownership to the competent authorities. We also wish to  reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law and the proper resolution of this dispute in accordance with Nigerian legal standards and provisions.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

8 May 2024

EFCC Arraigns Three former Bankers, One Other for N15.9m Fraud in Enugu

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 arraigned three former bankers, Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma and Uwaezuoke Raymond and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu State.

They were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N15, 944, 100. 00 (Fifteen Million, Nine Hundred and Forty-four Thousand, One Hundred Naira).

One of the counts reads: “That you, Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwe and Chidubem Angela Mgbeke sometimes in January 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; retaining the sum of N7, 996, 800. 00 ( Seven Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-six Thousand, Eight Hundred Naira) meant for evacuation to the Central Bank of Nigeria and property of Access Bank Plc Nottidge Branch, Onitsha which you knew or ought to have known to be proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 20 (b)”.

They pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to them. In view of their pleas, counsel to the EFCC , Ahmad Yusuf Abdullahi, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.  Defence counsel, O. O. Orji, however,  informed the court of a bail application already placed before it. 

Justice Umar thereafter adjourned the matter to May 22, 2024 for trial. The defendants were remanded at the EFCC custody pending the hearing of bail application.

Ibekwem, Chidimma and Raymond  were handed over to the EFCC on February 22, 2023  by Access Bank plc for pilfering N15, 944, 100. 00   before it was evacuated to the bullion unit of the bank for subsequent movement to the Central Bank of Nigeria. They were former staff of the Nottidge branch of the bank in  Onitsha, Anambra State.

Source: EFCC 

EFCC Arraigns One for N11.4m Fraud in Enugu

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 arraigned one Ukwueze Chidera Matthew before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N11, 458, 597. 53 (Eleven Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-Eight thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-Seven Naira, Fifty-Three kobo).

 

One of the charges reads: “That you,”Ukwueze Chidera Matthew, Chijioke Stephen Thomas (At large) and Chibuike Ignatius Okoli (At large) sometimes between 30th March 2022 and 8th June 2022 in Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria retained the sum of N11, 458, 597. 53 (Eleven Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-eight thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-seven Naira, Fifty-three koko) which you stole from Keystone account number 1012123695 belonging to Ajogwu Blessing Ukamaka which you knew or ought to have known to be proceed of your unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 20 (b) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022”.

 

He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him and in view of his plea,  counsel to the EFCC, B. Ajogwu prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility. Defence counsel, G. O. Ugwuoke however informed the court about a pending bail application before it.

 

Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo thereafter adjourned the matter till March 12, 2024 for hearing of bail application and June 26 and 27, 2024 for trial. The defendant was remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.

 

The defendant was arrested owing to the claims of a petitioner that  he allegedly withdrew N11, 458, 597. 53 from her bank account without her consent.

Investigations revealed that the defendant, who belongs to a syndicate of fraudsters, stole the petitioner’s Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card and used the same to hack into her bank account and diverted the said sum.

Source: EFCC 

EFCC Arrests 16 Internet Fraud Suspects in Enugu

Operatives of the Enugu Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested 16 suspected internet fraudsters in three separate sting operations in the Monarch area, New Haven Extension and Castle Majestic Hotel, Ogui Road, Enugu.

The suspects were arrested following verified intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet-related fraud activities. Part of the intelligence indicated that suspected internet fraudsters were operating from Castle Majestic Hotel, Enugu. Based on the intelli

gence, and weeks of surveillance, a search warrant was executed on the facility on Thursday September 16, 2021.
In the course of the operation, the operatives encountered a group that identified themselves as members of the National Association of Nigerian students, NANS and Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Youth wing. The leaders of the group duly identified their members and carried on with their activities.

But the target of the sting operation were arrested and brought to the Enugu Zonal Command for questioning.

Among the suspects arrested are: Agbo Paschal, Anthony Ogbu Uzochukwu, Ejiofor, Uchenna Ejiofor Chikora, Ezihe Victor, Nnaji Onyedikachi Christian, Eke Ike, Ogbodo Arinze, Ogbodo Ebube, Ogbu Chinedu, Ossai Chinedu and Udey Ifeanyi.

Some of the items recovered from them include one Lexus ES 350 car with plate number BLF 722 LD, one Yellow Fever travel document, several laptops, mobile phones and other incriminating documents.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

By EFCC

EFCC Arrests 14 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Enugu

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Command, on Thursday, August 19, 2021 arrested 14 suspected internet fraudsters at the Monarch axis of Enugu, Enugu State.

The suspects are: Okoro Anselem, Okoh Chumsdi, Ngwuta Chibuike, Chukwugekwu Michael,Chukwuemeka Victor, Chima Richard, Simon Prosper, Joshua Bomateh and Chukwunonso Henry. Other include Waritimi Fredrick, Ifesinachi valentine, Amadi Michael, Ijere Caleb, Victor Nduka and Joshua Odoemenam.

They were arrested based on verified intelligence on their involvement in internet related fraud.

Items recovered from the suspects include two vehicles, several mobile phones, laptops and other incriminating items.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

By EFCC