The Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, has ordered the remand of a Bureau De Change operator, Chidera Okeke, over an alleged N446.58 million fraud involving forgery and obtaining money under false pretences.
Justice Evelyn Anyadike gave the order after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arraigned Okeke and two companies linked to him, Paderlambs Investment Limited and Ishiugbo Nigeria Limited, on a three-count charge.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying its Enugu Zonal Directorate brought the charges against the defendants over an alleged fraud involving N446,579,629.
According to the commission, the money was allegedly obtained from Izuchukwu Okeke of Alphard Candy and Sons Limited between October and November 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The first count alleged that Chidiebere Christian Okeke, alongside Paderlambs Investment Limited, obtained the money with the intention to defraud the petitioner.
The commission said the funds were initially paid into the account of Nwadili David Chukwuka, who operated under the business name Ifeabata Ventures, before being transferred to the accounts of Paderlambs Investment Limited and Ishiugbo Nigeria Limited.
It alleged that the defendant claimed to have remitted the equivalent amount in Chinese Renminbi (RMB) to the petitioner’s business partner in China, despite allegedly knowing that the representation was false.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and is punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The third count accused Okeke of preparing forged telex documents in 2023, purportedly issued by JCI General Trading Pty Limited, Brisbane, Australia, with the knowledge that the documents were false or intended to be presented as genuine.
The EFCC said the alleged act was to the detriment of Izuchukwu Okeke, Managing Director of Alphard Candy and Sons Limited, and contravened Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Okeke pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, an Assistant Commander of the commission, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Awka.
Justice Anyadike granted the request and ordered that Okeke remain in custody. The case was adjourned to Thursday for the hearing of his bail application.
The arraignment followed the transfer of the defendant from the State Security Service to the EFCC on October 30, 2024, following a petition by Izuchukwu Okeke.
The petitioner alleged that between September and November 2023, he handed N446,579,629 to another BDC operator, Nwadili David Chukwuka, for onward transfer in Renminbi to his business partner in China.
He reportedly told investigators that Chukwuka later informed him that the money had been handed to the defendant for the transaction.
However, when confronted, Okeke allegedly admitted receiving the funds but failed to make the transfer. Instead, he reportedly attempted to refund the money by issuing a dud cheque.
The allegations are yet to be established in court.
