EFCC arraigns Cubana Manager over fraud, money laundering
Metro

EFCC arraigns Cubana Manager over Fraud, Money laundering

A manager with Cubana Group, Lucky Uchechukwu Ndukwe, has been arraigned by the Economics and Financial Crime Commission EFCC on Wednesday for an offence bordering on conspiracy to launder and money laundering.

The Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC arraigned the suspect, Ndukwe, known better as Cubana Prime Minister, alongside one Precious Omonkhoa Ofure before Justice O.A. Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State.

They were arrested recently by EFCC operatives following credible intelligence received about their involvement in the fraudulent activity.

Items recovered from them include the sum of $164, 000.00 (One Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand Dollars), iPhone mobile devices and laptop computers.

The charge against the suspect reads: “That you, Precious Omonkhoa Ofure and Lucky Uchechukwu Ndukwe, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves and laundered an aggregate sum of $164,000 which form part of $256,314 fraudulently obtained by false pretence from one Elena Bogomaz, a Canadian Citizen, and converted the fraudulent money into the United States Dollars with the help of a Bureau De Change Operator, which was then credited into the bank account of Casa Cubana Estate Limited and Lucky Uchechukwu Ndukwe respectively for the purchase of two landed properties and committed an offence contrary to Section 330 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”

During their arraignment on Wednesday, Ndukwe “pleaded not guilty”, while Ofure pleaded “guilty” to the charge.

Consequently, the prosecution counsel, M.K. Bashir, reviewed the facts of the case and prayed that the defendant, Ofure, be sentenced accordingly.

Delivering judgment, Justice Fadipe found Ofure guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment on two counts of conspiracy and money laundering, with an option of fine in the sum of N2,000,000.00 and 100 hours of community service.

The judge also ordered the forfeiture of all the items recovered from the convict.

Counsel to Ndukwe, Chuks Arubalaeze howwver, told the court about an application for bail on behalf of his client.

The judge granted Ndukwe bail in the sum of N5,000,000.00 with two sureties in like sum.

Justice Fadipe also ordered the remand of Ndukwe in the correctional facility pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

The case was adjourned to October 28, 2022, for commencement of trial.

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