EFCC Arraigns Woman Over Alleged ₦42.3m Fraud in Lagos…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a woman, Chinwendu Fidelia Ohanebo, before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja over an alleged ₦42.345 million fraud.

Key Highlights

• Woman arraigned over ₦42.3m fraud: The EFCC arraigned Chinwendu Fidelia Ohanebo before the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
• Two-count charge filed: She is facing allegations of obtaining money under false pretences and stealing by conversion.
• ₦42.345m allegedly obtained: The EFCC accused Ohanebo of collecting the money from Musa Muhammed Jidda for the supply of PMS.
• Fuel supply allegation: The money was reportedly paid for the supply of 45 litres of PMS at ₦941 per litre, according to the charge.
• Mixed plea: Ohanebo pleaded guilty to the first count but not guilty to the second count.

Ohanebo was brought before Justice M.A. Lawal on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the EFCC.

She is facing a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and stealing by conversion, involving the alleged sum of ₦42,345,000.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offences were allegedly committed in Lagos in 2025.

The EFCC alleged in the first count that Ohanebo obtained ₦42.345 million from one Musa Muhammed Jidda under false pretences.

The commission told the court that the money was allegedly collected for the supply of 45 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at a rate of ₦941 per litre.

The charge stated that the alleged offence contravened Sections 1(1)(a) and 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

In the second count, the defendant was accused of dishonestly converting the same ₦42.345 million belonging to Jidda to her personal use.

The alleged offence was said to contravene Section 280(1)(b) and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

When the charges were read to her, Ohanebo pleaded guilty to the first count but entered a plea of not guilty to the second.

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Following her plea, EFCC prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa, asked the court for an adjournment to allow the prosecution commence trial on the second count.

Justice Lawal subsequently adjourned the case for a review of the facts relating to the first count and commencement of trial on the second allegation.

The court also ordered that Ohanebo be remanded in a correctional facility pending the continuation of proceedings.

The case will now proceed with the court expected to examine the facts surrounding the defendant’s guilty plea while hearing evidence on the second count.

As proceedings continue, Ohanebo remains presumed innocent of the allegations until proven guilty by the court.