The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Udemba John Chibuzor before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, over alleged fraud amounting to N85.5 million.
Chibuzor was docked by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining by false pretence.
According to the charge, the defendant allegedly defrauded Decent Purch Services & Repairs by falsely presenting himself as the owner of a property known as “Nitel Staff Quarters” located along Zik Avenue, Uwani, Enugu.
The prosecution told the court that on December 6, 2024, the defendant allegedly obtained N30 million from the firm under the pretext of selling the property, despite having earlier sold it to Ogbodo Augustine Chimezie.
In a separate count, the EFCC alleged that on January 9, 2025, Chibuzor fraudulently obtained an additional N55.5 million from the same company using the same property, bringing the total sum to N85.5 million.
The offences, according to the commission, contravene Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, and are punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Assistant Commander Faruk Abdullah, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in a correctional facility.
Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo subsequently adjourned the matter to June 3, 2026, for trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded pending the hearing.
The EFCC said investigations revealed that the defendant allegedly sold the same property to multiple unsuspecting victims. After receiving payment from the petitioner, he reportedly became unreachable, prompting further complaints that led to his arrest.
