The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Ani Ugochukwu Augustine before Justice Ngozi Orji of the Enugu State High Court, Independence Layout, over alleged stealing to the tune of ₦1.3 million.
Ani was arraigned on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, on a one-count charge bordering on stealing. According to the charge:
“That you, Ani Ugochukwu Augustine, sometime in 2021, in Enugu, Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N1,300,000.00 (One Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira), being property of Mrs. Nsoke Veronica, and thereby committed an offence.”
The offence, the EFCC stated, contravenes Sections 342 and 343 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Revised Edition (Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria), 2004, and is punishable under Section 353 (f) and (i) of the same law.
The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read.
Following the plea, EFCC counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, prayed the court for a trial date and requested that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility.
But defence counsel, Ngozi Uzoma, attempted to make an oral application for bail. Ani opposed the move, stressing that “this is a court of record and the proper thing should be done.”
Justice Orji subsequently ordered the defence to file a formal bail application and adjourned the matter till October 2, 2025, for hearing. The defendant was remanded in custody pending the determination of his bail application.
According to the EFCC, Augustine’s arrest followed a petition alleging that he lured the complainant, Mrs. Nsoke Veronica, into believing he could help her purchase a good second-hand Toyota Sienna car with the said sum. However, after receiving payment, he allegedly failed to deliver the vehicle or refund the money.
