The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday brought charges against Jennifer Ezeagu and Goodnews Imah for allegedly defrauding a woman of N56 million.
The duo appeared before an Ikeja Special Offences Court, facing five charges, including conspiracy, stealing, obtaining money under false pretenses, and forgery. EFCC Counsel, Sulieman Suleiman, told the court that the accused, along with a third accomplice, Nige Vitalis (who remains at large), committed the offenses between May 11 and June 13 in Lagos.
The EFCC claims that the defendants conspired to fraudulently obtain N56 million from Mrs. Patience Abel by promising to invest it in a supplement business. They reportedly misled the complainant, telling her that the supplements would be supplied from a hospital in Uganda, which they knew to be false.
Instead of supplying the goods, the defendants allegedly kept the money for themselves. The charges against them violate several sections of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, as well as the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. EFCC counsel then requested that they be remanded in a correctional facility until the trial begins, revealing that 12 witnesses would testify against them.
The defense lawyers, Franker Umeri and U. Enwerem, applied for bail on behalf of their clients, asking for liberal terms. Umeri assured the court that his client would be available for trial, while Enwerem made the same request for his client.
Justice Rahman Oshodi remanded the defendants at Ikoyi Custodial Centre and stated that a decision on the bail applications would be communicated to their legal teams.