The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned two defendants, Blessing Onyinaya Chimaobi and Uzofor Benson Chinedu, before the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over their alleged involvement in the theft and retention of N78.3 million in proceeds of criminal conduct.

The defendants were re-arraigned yesterday before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on an amended 20-count charge.

They were initially arraigned on February 7, 2024, on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing. The prosecution subsequently amended the charges, increasing the counts from three to 20. The charges include conspiracy, contrary to Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011; stealing, contrary to Section 285 of the same law; and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, contrary to Sections 17(a) and (b) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.

In the first count, the prosecution alleged that the defendants and one Olisa Charles, who is said to be at large, conspired in 2023 in Lagos to defraud Christopher Onuigbo of N78,347,100.

The second count alleged that the defendants and Charles dishonestly converted the same sum, said to belong to Onuigbo, to their personal use between 2018 and 2023 in Lagos.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the amended charges when they were read to them in court.

Following their pleas, prosecution counsel, Temitope James Banjo, urged the court to revoke their bail and remand them to a correctional facility. He also sought a date for the continuation of the trial.

Earlier, Banjo told the court that the matter had been scheduled for cross-examination but that the prosecution had filed an amended information dated October 26, 2026.

He urged the court to accept the amended charges and direct that they be read to the defendants.

Defence counsel, Peter Taiwo, did not oppose the prosecution’s decision to amend the charges but said the defence needed adequate time to study the new information and determine its response.

He expressed concern that the prosecution had increased the charges from three to 20, adding 17 counts to the original charge.

Taiwo consequently sought an adjournment to enable him to examine the amended charges and advise his clients accordingly.

He also indicated that the defence might apply to recall the first and second prosecution witnesses, if necessary, in view of the amendments.

The court subsequently took the defendants’ pleas to the amended charges and adjourned the case to February 10, 11, 16 and 17, 2027, for continuation of the trial.