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

The defendants were re-arraigned yesterday before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on an amended 20-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and retention of proceeds of criminal conduct involving N78,347,100.

They were initially arraigned on February 7, 2024, on a three-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

However, 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 an aggregate sum of N78,347,100.

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

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

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

Earlier, Banjo had informed the court that the matter was 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 information and direct that the new charges be read to the defendants.

Defence counsel, Peter Taiwo, did not oppose the prosecution’s right to amend the charges but argued that the defence needed adequate time to study the amended information and determine the appropriate response.

Taiwo expressed concern that the prosecution had increased the charges from three to 20, introducing 17 additional counts.

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

The defence counsel also indicated that the defendants might apply for the recall of the first and second prosecution witnesses, if necessary, in view of the amendments.

The court subsequently took the defendants’ pleas to the amended charges before adjourning the matter.

Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case to February 10, 11, 16 and 17, 2027, for the continuation of trial.