An Agent Network Manager with a financial Services firm, Nomba Financial Services Limited, Uche Anderson Chiekea and his associate, Joy Oluchi Ani, have been arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over an alleged cross-border fraud and money laundering scheme involving $50,487, USD, between Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR).
Both Uche and Joy were arraigned today, before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa led-court, by the operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos, on a six count charge of conspiracy, unlawful funds diversion, altering approved of financial terms and money laundering.
The prosecutor, Barrister Clifton Onovo who held the brief of Barrister Stanley Afoaku, informed the court the the two defendants conspired among themselves and committed the alleged offences between February and May 2025.
Specifically, the prosecutor alleged that both defendants collaborated with others still at large to move illicit funds across borders in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The two defendants were accused of converting and transferring $50,487, knowing the funds were derived from illegal activities, with the intent to conceal their origin.
The prosecution argues that the transactions were deliberately structured to evade detection within the financial system.
The Agent Network Manager Chieke, was also alleged to have abused his position within the company, to misappropriate company funds which he was entrusted with. And that he allegedly diverted $50,487 for personal use.
He was alleged to have manipulated the company’s service fees and interest charges imposed on agents and customers without authorization from the company or its banking partners, by falsely presenting the increased charges as legitimate.
The alleged offences according to the prosecutor contravened sections 21 and 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition ) Act, 2022; Section 390 (9) and 421, of the Criminal Code Act, CAP 38 LFN; Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Relate Offences Act, 2000.
Both the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges were it was read to them.
Based on the defendants’ plea of not guilty, their lawyer, E. J. Kachichukwu leading two others, informed the court that that he had filed their motion for bail and same have been served on the prosecutor.
The prosecutor confirmed been served with the applications but told the court that he was not opposing same.
Based on the counsel submissions, Justice Lewis-Allagoa admitted each of the defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety each in like sum.
The surety, Justice Lewis-Allagoa ruled should be a landed owner within the court’s jurisdiction.
