The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Barrister Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo before Justice E. N. Oluedo of the Enugu State High Court, Independence Layout, over allegations of fraud.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, stating that Okonkwo is facing prosecution on a single charge of stealing by conversion involving ₦41 million. The alleged offense violates Section 342 of CAP 30, Criminal Code Law of Enugu State, and is punishable under Section 353 (L) of the same law.
According to the charge, Okonkwo, on November 23, 2015, allegedly diverted ₦41 million received from one Onyishi Maduka Samuel on behalf of the family of the late Ifemelunma Okoye. The funds were intended for the liquidation of Ifemelunma and Company Enterprises Limited.
Okonkwo pleaded “not guilty” to the charge. In response, prosecution counsel Ajobiewe Enitan requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility. However, Okonkwo, who represented himself in court, requested to continue enjoying the bail earlier granted to him by Justice H. O. Eya on the same matter.
After hearing both arguments, Justice Oluedo upheld Okonkwo’s bail and adjourned the case to May 13, 14, and 15, 2025, for trial.
This is not Okonkwo’s first arraignment on the matter. He was initially brought before Justice Eya on June 23, 2022, where he also pleaded “not guilty” and was granted bail.
In a related development, the EFCC had, in January, arraigned another lawyer, Benjamin Nwobodo, before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court in Enugu. Nwobodo faced five charges of forgery and obtaining money under false pretenses, amounting to ₦12 million.
