Connect with us

EVENTS

EFCC Arraigns Two for Alleged N382m Contract Fraud in Enugu

Published

on

The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned the duo of Onuaguluchi Ifeakanwa Chris and Izuchukwu Shedrack David, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu State.

They were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, retention of proceeds of crime and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N382, 336, 955. 00 (Three Hundred and Eighty-two Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-six Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty-five Naira).

One of the counts reads: “That you, Mr. Izuchukwu Shedrack David, Mrs Onuaguluchi Ifeakanwa Chris and Chief S. C. Ugwuanyi (Now at large), sometime between 4th May, 2023 in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretences and with intent to defraud, obtained from Architekon Nigeria Limited, an aggregate sum of Three-hundred and Thirty-one Million, Three-hundred and Seventy-six Thousand Naira (331, 376, 000. 00), paid into account number 1534670390, with account name Izuchukwu Shedrack David, domiciled in Access Bank Plc by falsely representing that the money is meant for counterpart fund for a contract to construct six unity houses for hospitals in six Local Government Areas in Ebonyi State as approved by World Health Organisation, a pretext you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act”.

The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them. In view of their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Michael Ikechukwu Ani and Blessing Obasi prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendants to be remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.

However, defence counsel, E. C. Chinenyeze and C. I. Enechionyia informed the court about pending bail applications before it. They moved the said applications and prayed the court to grant their clients bail on liberal terms.

Ani and Obasi vehemently opposed the applications on the ground that if granted bail, the defendants might jump bail considering the gravity of the offence.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to June 6, 2024 for ruling on the bail applications while the defendants were remanded at the Enugu State Correctional Facility.

The defendants allegedly swindled one Mackombo Omoila, Managing Director/CEO of Architekon Nigeria Limited of the said sum for a purported non-existent World Health Organisation contract to construct six Unity Houses for hospitals in six Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State. They were arrested on January 31, 2024 in Anambra State.

Visit www.efcc.gov.ng for more stories

EVENTS

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Meets Nkem Owoh At Things Fall Apart Festival 2025

Published

on

 

Renowned Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and beloved Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh, aka Osuofia, recently graced the Things Fall Apart Festival 2025 with their presence. The festival, held in Enugu, Nigeria, from June 29 to July 5, 2025, was a tribute to Chinua Achebe’s timeless classic, “Things Fall Apart”.

During the festival, Chimamanda Adichie delivered a keynote speech, where she invited Nkem Owoh to the stage, praising him as a “cultural icon” whose work has profoundly impacted Nigerians. She gushed, “This man is an icon for us. I’m his biggest fan,” as the audience erupted in applause. The duo shared a warm hug, and Nkem Owoh reciprocated with words of admiration for Chimamanda’s literary prowess.

Photo source: Instagram

Continue Reading

EVENTS

Ex-House of Reps member dragged to court for beating man who demanded accountability

Published

on

A business man, Mr Chinedu Anaukwu, has dragged a former member of the House of Representatives from Anambra State, Chinedu Obidigwe, to court for beating him up for demanding accountability for his performance as lawmaker.

Obidigwe who represented Anambra East/West Federal Constituency, was said to have carried out the act in 2023, shortly before the general election.

According to the victim: “It was in 2023, just before the general election, I had written in Aguleri World Forum, a WhatsApp group, demanding accountability from Obidigwe who was then recontesting to return to the House of Representatives.

“I told him it had been over three years that he had been in the National Assembly, and that before aspiring for re-election, he should give us account of his constituency funds and other achievements in the area.

“His boys were not happy about it, and one day he accosted me with over 13 thugs and ordered them to kill me. They beat me until I lost consciousness.”

When the matter came up on Tuesday at Otuocha High Court, Anambra East Local Government Area, counsel to Anaukwu, Chief Gozie Obi, SAN, withdrew the charges against the second and fifth defendants in the matter, who were identified as aides of Obidigwe who participated in the assault.

While the second defendant is said to be already late, the fifth was said not to have been served with the processes.

Obi who spoke to journalists, said: “Today is the first time the matter is coming up in court for pretrial hearing and in the course of the proceeding it came to light that the second defendant is late and since you can’t sue a dead person, we had to withdraw against him.

“Also, the fifth defendant was not served, but we wanted the case to progress, so we had to withdraw against him too, moreso when we know that the principal defendant is Obidigwe as all the others were just his aides, and acted under his instruction.”

During the sitting, the principal defendant, Obidigwe, was represented by his lawyer, Barrister Emmanuel Offoh.

The matter was later adjourned to November 18 for continuation pretrial before full hearing.

The plaintiff, Anaukwu, in his prayers, is asking for N200 million compensation for his ordeal, as well as the conviction of the former Rep.

Continue Reading

EVENTS

BREAKING: Police take over PDP Secretariat in Abuja

Published

on

As tension continues to mount over the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting, which is expected to hold on Monday, armed policemen have taken over its secretariat.

According to an official of the party who spoke to newsmen, the police were deployed to stop the proposed NEC Expanded Caucus Meeting.

Though some staff members of the party were initially allowed to go into the premises of the secretariat without any resistance from the police, they were later sent out.

At the time of filing this report, journalists were also asked to leave the premises of the secretariat, while some policemen were seen cordoning off Dalaba Street, which is the road leading to Wadata Plaza.

Details shortly…

Continue Reading

Trending