The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a legal practitioner, Mike Ikegbunam, before Justice M. T. Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and obtaining by false pretence amounting to N91 million.
Ikegbunam was initially arraigned on January 31, 2024, before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the same court, who has since been transferred.
At the resumed proceedings, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. He had earlier been granted bail on self-recognizance, with a condition to deposit his Call to Bar Certificate with the court.
According to the EFCC, the charges stem from alleged fraudulent transactions involving the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions of Nigeria.
In one of the counts, Ikegbunam was accused of inducing the association to part with N25 million on August 16, 2022, under the pretext of acquiring parcels of land for its members in Umuagu Ndiukwuanu Town, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, claims the prosecution said he knew to be false.
In another count, he allegedly obtained an additional N20 million from the same association on October 26, 2022, using a similar representation regarding land acquisition in the same area.
Following his not-guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu, requested a trial date to present evidence against the defendant.
However, defence counsel, S. E. Nnonyelu, urged the court to allow his client to continue enjoying the bail earlier granted by the previous judge.
Justice Segun-Bello granted the defence’s request and adjourned the case to October 21 and 22, 2026, for commencement of trial.
The EFCC disclosed that Ikegbunam was arrested on July 12, 2023, following a petition by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi branch of SSAUTHRIAI.
The association alleged that its members paid him N91 million for the purchase of 130 plots of land in Umuagu, Ozu Ndiukwuanu Town.
Investigations further revealed that the defendant has refunded N10 million to the association but allegedly diverted part of the funds.
The anti-graft agency claimed that N16.5 million, suspected to be proceeds of the fraud, was used by Ikegbunam to acquire three plots of land for personal use at Dubai Estate, Phase 2, in Awka, Anambra State.
