EFCC arraigns Obiorah Emelife for N72m cement fraud in Enugu

On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu Zonal Command, arraigned Obiorah Anthony Emelife before Justice C.O Ajah at the Enugu State High Court. The defendant faces charges of alleged N72 million fraud, which came to light following a petition from the late Atansi Obinna, concerning a cement business.

According to investigations, Emelife diverted funds intended for the purchase of hundreds of bags of cement, leading to the charges of stealing by conversion. One of the charges accuses Emelife of fraudulently converting N4,180,000.00 belonging to Nweke Juliana Ugo, meant for the purchase of 1,100 bags of cement.

Another count alleges that the defendant fraudulently converted N45,000,000.00, property of Obinna Atansi, which was payment for the purchase of bags of cement from customers.

Emelife pleaded not guilty to the charges, prompting the EFCC’s counsel, Edozie Raymond, to request remand in the Correctional Centre and a trial date to prove the case.

The defense counsel made an oral application for bail, but Justice Ajah ordered the defendant’s remand at the Enugu Correctional Centre and scheduled the trial for July 20, 2023.