The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Thursday, arraigned one Prof. Uche Chigozie Edwin, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged N1.4 billion fraud.
A press statement by EFCC Head, Media and Publicty, Wilson Uwujaren, Friday in Abuja, said Prof Edwin was arraigned alongside his companies, Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited; NEMAD Associates Limited and Revamp Global Enterprise; on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention and conversion of funds to the tune of N1,473,367,046.04.
He said one of the counts read: “That you, Professor Uche Chigozie Edwin, Visionary Integrated Consulting Limited, Nemad Associates Limited and Revamp Global Enterprise, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Court , conspired amongst yourselves to use the sum of N1,473,367,046.04, property of the Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MAGPAMAN), which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful activity to wit: fraud; and you thereby committed an offence , contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
The spokesperson said the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and in view of his plea, pleaProsecution Counsel, C.C.Okezie, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendant be remanded.
He said the Defence Counsel, Mobolaji Akintunde, in response, made an application for bail on behalf of his client.
“Akintunde prayed the court to admit his client to bail and also for his remand in the EFCC custody pending the perfection of the bail, if granted by the court,” he stated.
According to Uwujraen, “In a short ruling, Justice Oweibo admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million and two sureties in like sum.
“The sureties must possess landed property within the jurisdiction of thecourt, show a tax clearance certificate of three months as well as their passport photographs. The defendant was also ordered to deposit his passport with the court.”
He said the matter was adjourned till June 27, 2023 for the commencement of trial.
