EFCC ARRAIGNS WOMAN OVER ALLEGED N42.3M FRAUD IN LAGOS

Read Time:1 Minute, 17 Second

By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned a woman, Chinwendu Fidelia Ohanebo, before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over an alleged N42.345 million fraud.

Ohanebo was arraigned on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC before Justice M.A. Lawal on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and stealing by conversion.

According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly obtained N42,345,000 from one Musa Muhammed Jidda in 2025 under the pretext of supplying 45 litres of Premium Motor Spirit at N941 per litre.

The anti-graft agency alleged that Ohanebo subsequently dishonestly converted the money to her personal use.

The first count was filed under Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, while the second count borders on stealing by conversion under Section 280(1)(b), punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

When the charges were read to her, Ohanebo pleaded guilty to the first count but pleaded not guilty to the second count.

Following her plea, prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, asked the court for an adjournment to enable the prosecution commence trial on the second count.

Justice Lawal subsequently adjourned the matter for review of facts on the first count and commencement of trial on the second count.

The judge also ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility pending the continuation of proceedings.