EFCC Press: Release EFCC Arraigns Man for N6.9m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Tuesday, February 25, 2014 arraigned one Kingsley Nwaeweche before Justice Maryanne Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja on a 3-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation. The accused is alleged to have fraudulently converted the sum of N6, 940,802.00, part of the rent on a property, for personal use.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Kingsley U Nwaeweche ‘M’  ( being a Director and major shareholder in Aukings Properties Limited) and Aukings Properties Limited, sometime in January, 2012 at Abuja, within the judicial division of this Honourable Court did commit an offence to wit: criminal misappropriation by dishonestly converting the sum of N6,940,802.00 ( Six Million, Nine Hundred and Forty Thousand, Eight Hundred and Two Naira) being part of a total sum of N22,590,000 (Twenty Two Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Thousand Naira) paid to you by one Ade Mamonyane Lekoetje as rent in respect of property at No.10 Winnepeg Close, Maitama, Abuja without her consent and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 309 of the Penal Code.” The accused pleaded not guilty.

 Based on the plea of the accused person, the prosecution counsel, Benjamin Manji, asked the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in prison custodyl. The prosecution counsel told the court that it was not the first time the case was coming up for arraignment but that the accused person has been elusive after the Commission granted him administrative bail.

However, counsel to the accused, Mahmood Ahmed prayed the court to admit his client to bail as the offence is bailable.   

Justice Anenih fixed March 5, 2014 for ruling on the bail application and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.