EFCC ARRAIGNS TWO WOMEN FOR ALLEGED N20 MILLION FRAUD IN LAGOS

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned Chinyere Monye and Justina Ajayi before an Ikeja Special Offences Court over allegations of stealing ₦20 million.

The two defendants were charged alongside AER Global Investment Ltd on a five-count charge of conspiracy to steal, stealing, and obtaining money under false pretenses.

Both Monye and Ajayi pleaded not guilty to the charges.

EFCC Counsel, Mr. Suleiman Suleiman, informed the court that he would be calling six witnesses to prove the case against the defendants.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences took place on April 11, 2017. The EFCC accused the defendants of dishonestly converting ₦20 million belonging to the complainant, Mr. Johnson Okeke, for the use of Jodaf Concepts.

Furthermore, the EFCC claimed that Monye and Ajayi fraudulently induced Okeke to transfer the money to an account belonging to one Chris Monye, under the false pretense that Monye’s brother in Malaysia would deliver $50,000 to Okeke’s supplier in China.

The prosecution stated that the alleged actions violate Sections 278, 278(1), and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2015, as well as Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

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Defense counsel Ms. Mariam Hassan, representing Monye, requested that her client be allowed to continue on administrative bail previously granted by the EFCC. Similarly, Ms. Faith Nnaji, who represented Ajayi and AER Global Investment Ltd, made the same request.

Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe granted the application, allowing the defendants to remain on their pre-existing EFCC bail.

The court adjourned the case to June 30, 2025, for trial commencement.