The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned two defendants over an alleged ₦78.3 million fraud involving a Lagos-based complainant.
The defendants, Blessing Onyinaya Chimaobi and Uzofor Benson Chinedu, appeared before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Wednesday, October 29, 2026.
The EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 accused them of conspiring to defraud Christopher Onuigbo of ₦78,347,100, stealing the money and retaining proceeds of criminal conduct.
The defendants were first arraigned on February 7, 2024, on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. However, the prosecution later amended the charges, increasing the counts to 20.
EFCC Presents Amended 20-Count Charge
The amended charges include conspiracy under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, and stealing under Section 285 of the same law.
They also include allegations of retaining proceeds of criminal conduct under Sections 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.
In the first count, the prosecution alleged that Chimaobi, Chinedu and another suspect, Olisa Charles, who is currently at large, conspired in 2023 to defraud Onuigbo of ₦78,347,100.
The second count accused the defendants and Charles of dishonestly converting the same amount for their personal use between 2018 and 2023.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty after the court read the amended charges to them.
Defence Seeks Time to Study New Charges
Following the pleas, prosecution counsel, T. J. Banjo, asked the court to revoke the defendants’ bail and remand them in a correctional facility. He also requested a date for the continuation of the trial.
Banjo had earlier informed the court that the case was scheduled for cross-examination. He also told the court that the prosecution filed an amended information dated October 26, 2026.
He urged the judge to accept the amended charges and have them read to the defendants.
However, defence counsel, Peter Taiwo, did not oppose the prosecution’s right to amend the charges. He argued that the defence needed sufficient time to examine the new information and advise the defendants.
Taiwo expressed concern that the prosecution had increased the charges from three to 20, adding 17 new counts. He therefore asked the court to adjourn the case to allow the defence to study the amended charges.
He also said the defence might request the recall of the prosecution’s first and second witnesses, if necessary, because of the changes.
The court took the defendants’ pleas before adjourning the proceedings.
Justice Abike-Fadipe fixed February 10, 11, 16 and 17, 2027, for the continuation of the trial.