EFCC Arraigns Three for Alleged N156.9m Fraud in Lagos
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on Friday, November 6, 2026, arraigned the trio of Chukwu Amaka Goodness, Ajijie Ferdinand Eri and Enyeribe Precious before Justice D.I.Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The defendants were arraigned on a 14-count charge bordering on alleged stealing, conspiracy, fraudulent conversion and money laundering to the tune of N156,922,521.70 (One Hundred and Fifty-Six Million, Nine Hundred and Twenty-Two Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty-One Naira, Seventy Kobo Only).
One of the 14-counts against the first and second defendants, Goodness and Eri, reads: “That you, Chukwu Amaka Goodness and Ajijie Ferdinand Eri, sometime in March 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: retention of the total sum of N75,000,000.00 (Seventy-Five Million Naira) in an account nominated by you with account name ‘Ajijie Ferdinand’ and account number 6013401684, domiciled in Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: stealing, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2022.”
Another count reads:”That you, CHUKWU AMAKA GOODNESS and AJIJIE FERDINAND ERI, sometime in March 2025, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: retention of the total sum of N38,364,921.70 (Thirty-Eight Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty One Naira, Seventy Kobo) in an account nominated by you with account name ‘Ferdinand Ajijie’ and account number 2729506481, domiciled in Zenith Bank Plc., which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: stealing and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention Act), 2022."
The charge against the third defendant, Precious, reads: “That you, Enyeribe Precious, from February 21 to March 2, 2026, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted to your use Edet Eyo household electronics worth N7,823,000 (Seven Million, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Three Thousand Naira), property of Bonnibel Ugochi, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 383 and punishable under Section 390 of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C.38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
Both the first and second defendants pleaded “not guilty” to 13 of the 14 counts when the charges were read to them.
They, however, pleaded “guilty” to the remaining count.
Also, the third defendant pleaded “guilty” to the charge preferred against her.
In view of their respective plea, the prosecution counsel, Suleiman I. Suleiman, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in a Correctional centre.
Justice Dipeolu, thereafter, adjourned the matter until November 18 and 20, 2026, for the commencement of trial in respect of the first and second defendants and a review of facts in the case involving the third defendant. He ordered that Eri be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, while Goodness and Precious were remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
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