The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned three defendants over an alleged N156.9 million fraud before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The defendants, identified as Chukwu Amaka Goodness, Ajijie Ferdinand Eri and Enyeribe Precious, were arraigned on Friday, by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 2.
They appeared before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on a 14-count charge bordering on alleged stealing, conspiracy, fraudulent conversion and money laundering involving N156,922,521.70.
According to the EFCC, some of the charges against Goodness and Eri relate to the alleged retention of N75 million in an account domiciled with Moniepoint Microfinance Bank and another N38.36 million in a Zenith Bank account.
The commission alleged that the defendants reasonably ought to have known that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities, including stealing.
The EFCC announced the arraignment in a statement detailing the charges and court proceedings.
One of the charges accused the duo of conspiring in March 2025 to retain N75 million in an account bearing the name Ajijie Ferdinand.
Another count alleged that they conspired to retain N38,364,921.70 in an account bearing the name Ferdinand Ajijie.
Both allegations were brought under Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.
Meanwhile, the third defendant, Precious, was accused of fraudulently converting household electronics worth N7.823 million belonging to Bonnibel Ugochi.
The EFCC alleged that the incident occurred between February 21 and March 2, 2026, in Lagos.
The charge was brought under Sections 383 and 390 of the Criminal Code Act.
Defendants Enter Pleas
When the charges were read, Goodness and Eri pleaded not guilty to 13 of the 14 counts but admitted guilt to the remaining count.
Precious also pleaded guilty to the charge preferred against her.
Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Suleiman I. Suleiman, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility.
Justice Dipeolu subsequently adjourned the case until November 18 and 20, 2026.
The dates were fixed for the commencement of trial involving Goodness and Eri and a review of facts in Precious’s case.
The judge ordered that Eri be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, while Goodness and Precious were sent to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
