The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, Chidiebere Christian Okeke, and two companies before the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, over an alleged ₦446,579,629 fraud involving money meant to be transferred to a businessman’s trading partner in China.
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Okeke was arraigned alongside Paderlambs Investment Limited and Ishiugbo Nigeria Limited before Justice Evelyn Anyadike on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money under false pretences and forgery.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant obtained the money from Izuchukwu Okeke, Managing Director of Alphard Candy and Sons Limited, under the pretence that its equivalent in Chinese Renminbi (RMB) would be remitted to his business partner in China.
According to the EFCC, the alleged offences occurred between October and November 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State.
In the first count, the prosecution alleged that Okeke and Paderlambs Investment Limited obtained the sum of ₦446,579,629 from the complainant with intent to defraud.
The charge stated that the money was initially paid into an account belonging to Nwadili David Chukwuka, trading under the name and style of Ifeabata Ventures, before being transferred into the bank accounts of Paderlambs Investment Limited and Ishiugbo Nigeria Limited.
The EFCC alleged that the defendant falsely represented to the complainant that the equivalent of the money in Chinese currency had been remitted to his business partner.
Count one of the charge reads:
“That you, Chidiebere Christian Okeke, Paderlambs Investment Limited, sometime between October, 2023 and November, 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, did obtain from Izuchukwu Okeke of Alphard Candy and Sons Limited, an aggregate sum of Four Hundred and Forty-six Million, Five Hundred and Seventy-nine Thousand, Six Hundred and Twenty-nine Naira (₦446,579,629.00), which sum was initially paid into the account of Nwadili David Chukwuka, trading under the name and style of Ifeabata Ventures and subsequently transferred into the bank accounts of Paderlambs Investment Limited and Ishiugbo Nigeria Limited respectively, which you claimed to have remitted the RMB equivalent of the said sum to Izuchukwu Okeke’s business partner in China, a representation you knew to be false.”
The prosecution maintained that the alleged offence was contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.
In the third count, the EFCC accused Okeke of forging telex documents purportedly issued by JCI General Trading Pty Limited, located at 4169 Brisbane, Australia.
According to the charge, the defendant allegedly created the documents knowing them to be false, or with the intention that they would be accepted and acted upon as genuine, to the detriment of the complainant.
Count three reads:
“That you, Chidiebere Christian Okeke, sometime in 2023 in Onitsha, Anambra State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did make forged telex documents, purportedly emanating from JCI General Trading Pty Limited, 4169 Brisbane, Australia, knowing same to be false or with intent that the said documents might be used or acted upon as genuine, to the prejudice of Izuchukwu Okeke, the Managing Director of Alphard Candy and Sons Limited.”
The Commission stated that the alleged forgery was contrary to and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
When the charges were read to him, Okeke pleaded not guilty.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC II Michael Ikechukwu Ani, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Awka.
Justice Anyadike subsequently adjourned the matter until November 19, 2026, for the hearing of the defendant’s bail application.
The court also ordered that Okeke be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending further proceedings.
Providing details of the allegations, the EFCC disclosed that the defendant was handed over to the Commission on October 30, 2024, by the State Security Service (SSS), alongside a petition submitted by the complainant, Izuchukwu Okeke.
In the petition, the businessman alleged that between September and November 2023, he gave the sum of ₦446,579,629 to another BDC operator, Nwadili David Chukwuka, for the purpose of remitting its equivalent in Chinese Renminbi to his business partner in China.
According to the complainant, Chukwuka subsequently informed him that the money had been handed over to Chidiebere Christian Okeke to complete the foreign currency transaction.
The complainant alleged that when he confronted the defendant over the transaction, Okeke acknowledged receiving the money.
However, rather than remitting the Chinese currency equivalent to the intended recipient, the defendant allegedly offered to refund the money.
The EFCC stated that the defendant subsequently issued a cheque which was dishonoured, according to the complaint.
The alleged failure to complete the foreign currency transaction or refund the money formed part of the circumstances leading to the petition and subsequent prosecution.
Following the investigation, the EFCC’s Enugu Zonal Directorate instituted the three-count charge against Okeke and the two companies.
The prosecution is alleging that the defendant obtained the funds through false representations and forged documents purportedly originating from an Australian company.
However, the allegations remain before the court for determination, and Okeke has denied the charges.
The matter will resume on November 19, 2026, when Justice Anyadike is expected to hear the defendant’s bail application.
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