The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned three defendants over alleged stealing, fraudulent conversion and money laundering involving N156.9m before the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The defendants, Chukwu Amaka Goodness, Ajijie Ferdinand Eri and Enyeribe Precious, were arraigned before Justice D.I. Dipeolu on Friday, November 6, 2026, on a 14-count charge, according to the commission.
The EFCC disclosed this in a statement shared on its official X account, @officialEFCC, on Monday.
The alleged fraud involves N156,922,521.70, with Goodness and Eri accused of retaining funds suspected to be proceeds of stealing in bank accounts, while Precious allegedly converted household electronics worth N7.8m belonging to another person.
According to the prosecution, Goodness and Eri allegedly conspired in March 2025 to retain N75m in an account bearing the name Ajijie Ferdinand with Moniepoint Microfinance Bank.
The charge stated that the defendants “reasonably ought to have known” that the money “forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: stealing.”
The commission further accused the duo of retaining N38,364,921.70 in an account bearing the name Ferdinand Ajijie with Zenith Bank Plc.
The alleged retention of the funds was said to contravene Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022, which provides for the prosecution of persons involved in retaining proceeds of unlawful activities.
In a separate charge, Precious was accused of fraudulently converting household electronics valued at N7.823m belonging to Bonnibel Ugochi between February 21 and March 2, 2026, in Lagos.
The charge alleged that Precious “fraudulently converted to your use Edet Eyo household electronics worth N7,823,000,” belonging to Ugochi.
The prosecution cited Sections 383 and 390 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C.38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, in the charge against her.
During the proceedings, Goodness and Eri pleaded not guilty to 13 of the 14 counts but admitted guilt to the remaining count. Precious also pleaded guilty to the charge against her.
Following the pleas, prosecution counsel, Suleiman I. Suleiman, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in correctional facilities pending further proceedings.
Justice Dipeolu adjourned the matter until November 18 and 20, 2026, for the commencement of trial involving the first and second defendants and a review of facts in the case against Precious.
The judge ordered that Eri be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, while Goodness and Precious were remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
The arraignment underscores the EFCC’s continued prosecution of alleged financial crimes, including the handling of funds suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The defendants’ pleas and the allegations against them remain subject to the court’s proceedings.
