Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna, who trades under the name and style of Monpere's Autos, before the Enugu State High Court over an alleged N15.4 million vehicle importation fraud. Ogbonna was brought before Justice Vincent C. Ezeugwu on a four-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion.
According to the charge sheet, the defendant allegedly collected a total of N15.4 million from a petitioner, Mr. Paulson Nwakoby, sometime in October 2023, to assist him in importing three cars. On receipt of the money, Ogbonna promised to deliver the vehicles on or before December 25, 2023, but failed to do so. He neither delivered the cars nor returned the money to the petitioner.
Count one of the charges reads: “Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna (trading under the name and style of Monpere’s Autos) sometime in September 2023, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Enugu State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira) for the purchase of vehicles being property of Mr. Paulson Nwakoby and thereby committing an offence.”
Count two of the charges reads: “Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna (trading under the name and style of Monpere’s Autos) sometime between 28th of November, 2023 and 10th of December, 2023, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Enugu State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira) for the purchase of vehicles being property of Mr. Paulson Nwakoby and thereby committing an offence.”
The offence is contrary to Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Enugu State, and punishable under Section 353 (1) of the same Law.
When the charges were read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty. Following his plea, the EFCC counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Rotimi Ajobiewe, prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Enugu. However, the court ordered that the defendant be remanded at the EFCC facility and adjourned the matter to July 16, 2026, for the hearing of his bail application.
The case stems from a petition filed by the complainant, who alleged that he paid the defendant N15.4 million to import three vehicles for him, but the defendant failed to deliver the cars or refund the money. The EFCC, in its investigation, found that the defendant fraudulently converted the funds to his personal use. The trial is set to continue on July 16, 2026.
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