The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 arraigned one Ukwueze Chidera Matthew before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing to the tune of N11, 458, 597. 53 (Eleven Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-Eight thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-Seven Naira, Fifty-Three kobo).
One of the charges reads: “That you,”Ukwueze Chidera Matthew, Chijioke Stephen Thomas (At large) and Chibuike Ignatius Okoli (At large) sometimes between 30th March 2022 and 8th June 2022 in Enugu, Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria retained the sum of N11, 458, 597. 53 (Eleven Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-eight thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-seven Naira, Fifty-three koko) which you stole from Keystone account number 1012123695 belonging to Ajogwu Blessing Ukamaka which you knew or ought to have known to be proceed of your unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 20 (b) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022”.
He pleaded “not guilty” when the charges were read to him and in view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, B. Ajogwu prayed the court for a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility. Defence counsel, G. O. Ugwuoke however informed the court about a pending bail application before it.
Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo thereafter adjourned the matter till March 12, 2024 for hearing of bail application and June 26 and 27, 2024 for trial. The defendant was remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.
The defendant was arrested owing to the claims of a petitioner that he allegedly withdrew N11, 458, 597. 53 from her bank account without her consent.
Investigations revealed that the defendant, who belongs to a syndicate of fraudsters, stole the petitioner’s Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card and used the same to hack into her bank account and diverted the said sum.