Court Remands Enugu-Based Businessman Arraigned By EFCC For N340million Money Laundering

Justice M.G Umar of the Federal High Court, Enugu division, has ordered the remand of businessman Kingsley Chinonye Unije at the Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre on charges of fraud and money laundering.

Unije, who was arraigned on Wednesday by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the five-count charge was accused of forgery, obtaining money under false pretence, and money laundering to the tune of N340 million.

But when the charges were read to the accused, he  pleaded not guilty.

Part of the count read, "that you KINGSLEY CHINONYE UNIJE sometime between May and 2022 in Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N170,000,000.00 from Igwe Cosmas Ezeumeh under the false pretense that you were selling to him two landed property known as plot 81 and 304 at New layout Enugu with the consent of Late Mrs Victoria Unije which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud- related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same act.

“That you KINGSLEY CHINONYE UNIJE sometime between May and June 2022, in Enugu State, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria converted the sum of (120,000,000.00) by purchasing two landed properties in your personal name, and one in the name of Michael Emeka Bernard knowing that the said money formed part of your unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Act and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same act.”

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, Al’qasim Jaafar prayed to the court to remand the defendant to the Correctional Centre and set a date for trial in the matter telling the court that the prosecution is ready to present its witnesses.

But responding to the defence counsel, Beatrice Nwatueze prayed to the court for the bail of his client.

However, the trial judge, Justice Umar after listening to both counsels ordered that the defendant be remanded in Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to January 30, 2024, for a hearing of the bail application.