EFCC Arraigns Barrister Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo Over N41 Million Fraud
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 in Independence Layout, Enugu, on charges of fraud.
Okonkwo is facing a one-count charge of stealing by conversion, amounting to N41 million. According to the EFCC, the offence contravenes Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law of Enugu State and is punishable under Section 353 (L) of the same Law.
The charge alleges that Okonkwo fraudulently converted N41,000,000 to his own use. The money was reportedly received by Okonkwo from one Onyishi Maduka Samuel, for the family of the late Ifemelunma Okoye, in his capacity as the liquidator of Ifemelunma and Company Enterprises Limited.
The alleged incident occurred on or about November 23, 2015, in Enugu. Okonkwo pleaded “not guilty” to the charge when it was read to him. In response, prosecution counsel Ajobiewe Enitan requested a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a correctional facility. However, Okonkwo, who appeared for himself in court, applied to continue enjoying the bail granted to him by Justice H. O. Eya of the same court on June 23, 2022, when the case was previously heard.
After considering both sides, Justice Oluedo granted Okonkwo’s application and adjourned the case to May 13, 14, and 15, 2025, for trial.
This latest development adds to ongoing legal proceedings involving lawyers and financial crimes in the Enugu jurisdiction. Just earlier this year, the EFCC also arraigned a lawyer, Benjamin Nwobodo, on charges of forgery and obtaining by false pretence involving N12 million.
