The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned two defendants over an alleged N78.3 million theft involving a Lagos businessman, Christopher Onuigbo.
The defendants, Blessing Onyinaya Chimaobi and Uzofor Benson Chinedu, were re-arraigned on Wednesday, October 29, 2026, before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC brought the defendants before the court over alleged conspiracy, stealing and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct involving N78,347,100.
According to the commission, the defendants were initially arraigned on February 7, 2024, on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. However, the prosecution subsequently amended the charges, increasing them to 20 counts.
EFCC Details Alleged N78.3m Theft
The amended charges border on conspiracy under Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011; stealing under Section 285 of the same law; and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct under Sections 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.
In the first count, the prosecution alleged that the defendants and one Olisa Charles, who is currently at large, conspired in 2023 to defraud Onuigbo of N78,347,100.
The second count accused the defendants and Charles of dishonestly converting the same amount, allegedly belonging to Onuigbo, for their personal use between 2018 and 2023.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read in court.
EFCC Seeks Revocation of Defendants’ Bail
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, T. J. Banjo, urged the court to revoke the defendants’ bail and remand them in a correctional facility.
Banjo also requested an adjournment for the continuation of the trial.
Earlier, the prosecution informed the court that the matter was scheduled for cross-examination and that it had filed an amended information dated October 26, 2026.
He urged the court 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 but argued that his clients needed adequate time to study the amended information and prepare their response.
Taiwo expressed concern that the prosecution had increased the charges from three to 20, introducing 17 additional counts.
He consequently requested an adjournment to enable him to review the new charges and advise his clients accordingly.
The defence counsel also indicated that he might apply for the recall of the prosecution’s first and second witnesses, if necessary, following the amendment.
The court subsequently took the defendants’ pleas before adjourning the matter.
Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case to February 10, 11, 16 and 17, 2027, for the continuation of trial.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty, and the allegations remain to be determined by the court.
