The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, on Wednesday arraigned a woman, Chinwendu Fidelia Ohanebo, before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over an alleged N42.345m fraud.
Ohanebo was arraigned before Justice M.A. Lawal on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and stealing by conversion, according to a statement by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Ohanebo sometime in 2025 obtained N42,345,000 from one Musa Muhammed Jidda under the false pretence of supplying 45 litres of Premium Motor Spirit at the rate of N941 per litre.
The first count alleged that the defendant obtained the money with intent to defraud, an offence said to be contrary to Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
The second count accused Ohanebo of dishonestly converting the N42,345,000 belonging to Jidda to her personal use, contrary to Section 280(1)(b) and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
When the charges were read to her, Ohanebo pleaded guilty to the first count but pleaded not guilty to the second count.
Following her plea, the prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, asked the court for an adjournment to enable the prosecution commence trial on the second count.
Justice Lawal subsequently adjourned the matter for a review of facts on the first count and commencement of trial on the second count.
The judge also ordered that Ohanebo be remanded in a correctional facility pending the continuation of proceedings.
