Justice Yellim Bogoro of a Federal High Court, has ordered the remand of one Onyedika Michael Eriobuna, over alleged fraud of N206 million, money laundering, providing false information to law enforcement authorities and obtaining by false pretence.
The 39 years old man was remanded on Wednesday, after he pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The defendant was arraigned before the court in a 10-count charge marked FHC/L/205C/2026, filed by the Police Special Fraud Unit PSFU Ikoyi-Lagos on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The defendant is accused of allegedly obtaining several millions of naira and foreign currencies from some individuals under the pretext of converting the funds into naira through Bureau De Change (BDC) transactions.
The prosecutor, Barrister Achi Caleb informed the court that the defendant allegedly obtained Chinese’ Renminbi (RMB) 38,000, equivalent to Nigeria’s N316,000, 00, from Mr. Linus Igbokwe and Mr. Kelvin Okon on July 24, 2024.
He also told the court that the defendant on July 27, 2024, allegedly obtained the sum of $60,000, equivalent to about N99 million, from Mr. Linus Igbokwe and Mr. Samaila Sarki under similar circumstances.
The defendant was also alleged to have on July 30, 2024, obtained another $65,000, equivalent to N107 million, from the dou of Mr. Igbokwe and Mrs. Rosemary Okoroafor.
The prosecutor alleged that the defendant falsely represented that the funds would be converted into their naira equivalent, but failed and refused to do so.
Additionally, the prosecutor alleged that the defendant is facing multiple counts of money laundering.
The prosecutor also told the court that the defendant gave false information to investigators at the FCID, Abuja, on September 2, 2024, where he alleged that he was defrauded of the sum of N200 million by one Mr. Linus Igbokwe and others.
The defendant’s alleged illegal acts, according to the prosecutor are contrary to Sections 18(2) and 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022; Sections 1(a) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud And Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and Section 125(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Following the defendant’s not guilty plea to the charges, the judge granted prosecutor’s remand request, and ordered the defendant be remanded in the Ikoyi center of the Nigerian Correctional Services NCoS, till June 8, when his bail application would be heard and determined.
Counts one, five and 10 of the charges against the defendant read: “that you, Onyedika Michael Eriobuna, on or about the 24th day of July, 2024 at Lagos, trial-able within the Lagos Federal High Court Judicial Division, did directly or indirectly acquires, or takes possession or control of property[funds], to the total sum of about Three Hundred and Sixteen Thousand Naira (N316,000.00k) Only, property of One Mr. Linus Igbokwe ‘m’ & Kelvin Okon ‘m’, intentionally, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that such property forms part of the proceeds of unlawful act, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 18(2) of the Money Laundering [Prevention & Prohibition] Act, 2022.
“That you, Onyedika Michael Eriobuna, on or about the 27th day of July, 2024 at Lagos, trial-able within the aforesaid Judicial Division, did directly or indirectly converts/ or transfers to yourselves or to other person(s), property [funds], to the total sum of about Sixty Thousand USD [$60,000.] equivalent to about Ninety-Nine Million Naira (N99, 000, 000.00k) Only, property of One Mr. Linus Igbokwe ‘m’ & Samaila Sarki ‘m’, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering [Prevention & Prohibition] Act, 2022.
“That you, Onyedika Michael Eriobuna, on or about the 2nd day of September, 2024 at Force CID, Abuja, trial-able within the aforesaid Judicial Division, did give a false information of Obtaining the total sum of about Twenty Million Naira [N20,000,000.00K] Only by false pretence, from you, by One Mr. Linus Igbokwe ‘m’ & Ors, to the Inspector General of Police [IGP]; and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 125(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap C 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”