MAN DETAINED BY EFCC IN ENUGU FOR N72 MILLION CEMENT FRAUD

Tunji Wusu –

Obiorah Anthony Emelife was charged on Wednesday by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with alleged N72 million fraud before Justice C.O. Ajah of the Enugu State High Court, Enugu.

An EFCC statement claims that the defendant was detained sometime in 2023 as a result of a petition alleging that he deceived one Atansi Obinna, who is now deceased, over a cement business.

According to the anti-graft organization, its investigation showed that the defendant stole funds intended to buy hundreds of bags of cement.

According to one of the charges, “You OBIORAH ANTHONY EMELIFE between November 15, 2022, and December 16, 2022, in Enugu State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit a felony, namely, stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the aggregate sum of Four Million, One Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N4,180,000.00) property of Nweke Juliana Ugo, the said sum being payment for the

That you, OBIORAH ANTHONY EMELIFE, “did commit a felony to wit: Stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the aggregate sum of Forty-Five Million Naira (N45,000.000.00), property of Obinna Atansi, the said sum being payment for the purchase of bags cement from customers, thereby committed an offence of stealing by conversion contrary to law” is stated in a separate count.

When the accusations were read to the defendant, he entered a not guilty plea.

In light of the defendant’s plea, the EFCC’s attorney, Edozie Raymond, requested that the court return the defendant to the detention facility and set a trial date so that the prosecution may present its evidence.

However, the defense attorney requested bail orally.

After hearing from both attorneys, Justice Ajah ruled that the defendant should be kept in custody at the Enugu Correctional Facility and postponed the hearing until July 20, 2023.