EFCC arraigns fake car dealer over alleged N15.4m fraud in Enugu

By Imisioluwa Afunmiso

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an alleged fake car dealer, Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna, before the Enugu State High Court over the alleged fraudulent conversion of N15.4 million meant for the importation of vehicles.

Ogbonna, who allegedly traded under the name and style of Monpere’s Autos, was arraigned before Justice Vincent C. Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a four-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion.

According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly converted N15.4 million entrusted to him by a customer for the purchase and importation of vehicles to his personal use.

One of the charges alleged that Ogbonna, sometime in September 2023, fraudulently converted N4 million belonging to Mr Paulson Nwakoby, which was meant for the purchase of vehicles. Another count alleged that between November 28 and December 10, 2023, he similarly converted another N4 million belonging to the same complainant.

The anti-graft agency said the alleged offences contravened Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State and are punishable under Section 353(1) of the same law.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II), Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in custody pending the determination of his bail application.

Justice Ezeugwu adjourned the matter until July 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the EFCC facility.

According to the Commission, Ogbonna was arrested following a petition alleging that the complainant paid him N15.4 million in October 2023 to facilitate the importation of three vehicles.

The EFCC alleged that the defendant promised to deliver the vehicles on or before December 25, 2023, but failed to do so and neither supplied the vehicles nor refunded the money.