The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned an alleged fake car dealer, Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna, before the Enugu State High Court over an alleged N15.4 million vehicle importation fraud.
Ogbonna, who allegedly operated under the business name Monpere’s Autos, was arraigned by the Enugu Zonal Directorate of the EFCC 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 a statement issued on Thursday by the Commission on its official X account, the defendant is accused of fraudulently converting N15.4 million entrusted to him for the purchase and importation of vehicles.
One of the charges reads:
“Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna (trading under the name and style of Monpere’s Autos) sometime in September 2023, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Enugu State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira) for the purchase of vehicles being property of Mr. Paulson Nwakoby and thereby committing an offence.”
Another count states:
“Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna (trading under the name and style of Monpere’s Autos) sometime between 28th of November, 2023 and 10th of December, 2023, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Enugu State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira) for the purchase of vehicles being property of Mr. Paulson Nwakoby and thereby committing an offence.”
The anti-graft agency said the alleged offences contravene 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, prosecution counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II), Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to fix a date for trial and order the defendant’s remand in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Ezeugwu, however, adjourned the matter until July 16, 2026, for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application and ordered that he be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of his bail request.
The EFCC disclosed that Ogbonna’s arraignment followed a petition alleging that the complainant paid him N15.4 million in October 2023 to facilitate the importation of three vehicles.
According to the Commission, the defendant promised to deliver the vehicles on or before December 25, 2023, but allegedly failed to supply the cars or refund the money, prompting the petition that led to his arrest and prosecution.
