EFCC ARRAIGNS SUPERMARKET MANAGER OVER ALLEGED N547M FRAUD IN BENIN

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Benin Zonal Directorate, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, arraigned one Evangeline Atanda Ibadha, a former manager of JustProtein Supermarket in Benin City, over alleged diversion and conversion of funds totalling N547,307,016.

She was brought before Justice (Professor) C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City on a five-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion and money laundering.

One of the charges alleges that Ibadha, on or about November 1, 2022, unlawfully took control of N10,005,000 paid into her EcoBank account, knowing or reasonably ought to have known that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

Another count states that between January 2018 and January 2025, she allegedly received an aggregate sum of N319,335,216 into her First Bank account, also believed to be proceeds of criminal conversion. Both charges contravene Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty.

Following the plea, prosecution counsel, I. M. Elodi, urged the court to remand the defendant at the Correctional Centre and set a date for trial. However, defence counsel, Evans Ogbeifun, asked to stand as an interim surety pending the determination of a formal bail application.

Justice Obiozor adjourned the case to December 8, 2025, for hearing on the bail application.