Joseph Bakare
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has re-arraigned one Barrister Mike Ikegbunam before Justice M. T. Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N91, 000, 000. 00 (Ninety-one Million Naira).
The defendant, who was previously arraigned on Wednesday, January 31, 2024 before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the same court, (who has now been transferred), pleaded not guilty and was granted bail based on self-recognizance but was asked to deposit his Call to Bar Certificate with the court.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Mike Ikegbunam on 16th August, 2022 in Umuagu Ozu Village, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, induced the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions of Nigeria to deliver to you, the sum of N25,000,000.00 (Twenty-five mMillion naira) under the pretence that you are capable of acquiring some portions of land for their members at Umuagu Ndiukwuanu Town in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Mike Ikegbunam, on 26th October, 2022 in Umuagu Ozu village, Anambra State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria with intent to defraud, induced the Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institute and Association Institution of Nigeria to deliver to you the sum of N20, 000, 000. 00 (Twenty million Naira) under the pretence that you are capable of acquiring some portions of land for their members at Umuagu Ndiukwuanu town in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State which pretence you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act”.
Again, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him. In view of his plea, counsel to the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, ACE II Mainforce Adaka Ekwu prayed the court for a trial date, to enable the prosecution to prove its case.
However, defence counsel, S. E. Nnonyelu prayed the court to allow his client to continue to enjoy the earlier bail granted him by the previous judge. The court granted the prayer and adjourned the matter toOctober 21 and 22, 2026 for commencement of trial.
Ikegbunam was arrested on July 12, 2023 owing to the claims of the Senior Staff Association of Universities Teaching Hospitals, Research Institute and Association Institution of Nigeria (SSAUTHRIAI), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi branch, alleging that its members paid N91 Million to him for the purchase of 130 (One hundred and thirty) plots of land at Umuagu, Ozu Ndiukwuanu town, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Investigations showed that the defendant, who has refunded N10, 000, 000. 00 (Ten million Naira) to the Association, allegedly used N16, 500, 000. 00 (Sixteen million, Five hundred thousand Naira), suspected to be part of the money to acquire three plots of land for himself at Dubai estate, phase 2 in Awka, Anambra State.