The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Barrister Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
Barr. Nwobodo is facing a five-count charge bothering on forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N12,000,000.00 (Twelve Million Naira).
This information was released in a statement on Monday, signed by Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity.
Count three of the charge states: “That you, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo, on the 15th day of January 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Nine Million Naira (N9,000,000.00) from one Wilson Ikeani Igwe under the false pretence of selling three plots of land located in Emene, Enugu State, a pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
Count four of the charge reads: “That you, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo, on the 15th day of December 2014, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Three Million Naira (N3,000,000.00) from one Wilson Ikeani Igwe under the false pretence of selling one plot of land situated in Emene, Enugu State, a pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read.
In light of his plea, Chief Superintendent CSE Chikezie Raymond Edozie, counsel for the EFCC, requested a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility.
However, the defendant, who announced that he would represent himself, made an oral application for bail, which the court granted under the following conditions:
Two sureties in the sum of N25 million each; one surety must own property in Enugu metropolis, while the other must be a blood relation who submits three years of tax clearance to the Court. Both sureties are required to provide affidavits of means, and the EFCC will verify their identities and addresses within seven working days of receiving their details.
Additionally, the defendant must submit his international passport to the Deputy Court Registrar.
The Court then allowed the defendant to return home on self-recognizance but granted him ten days to meet the bail conditions, failing which the EFCC would arrest him and take him to a Correctional Facility.
The case has been adjourned to May 13 and 14, 2025, for trial.