The Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri has affirmed the conviction and one-year prison sentence handed down to a former Commissioner for Transport in Imo State, Lasberry Okafor-Anyanwu, for fraud and abuse of office.
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Delivering judgment on July 30, 2025, Justice Mohammed Lawal-Abubakar held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The appellate court dismissed the ex-commissioner’s appeal as lacking merit.
Okafor-Anyanwu, who served under the administration of former Governor Rochas Okorocha, was earlier convicted on March 14, 2023, by the Imo State High Court on a three-count charge of fraudulent acquisition of government property and misuse of public office. Though discharged on one count, he was found guilty on three others.
The court found that between 2015 and 2019, while serving as Chairman of the Committee on the Review of Imo Transport Company and later as Commissioner for Transport, the defendant fraudulently acquired a management lease agreement through Oma Oil & Industries Ltd—a company in which he held multiple positions, including Chairman, Director, and sole signatory.
EFCC investigations revealed that N180 million belonging to the Imo Transport Company was illegally diverted into Oma Oil’s corporate account. Of this sum, N100 million came from the Imo State Microfinance Bank in November 2017, followed by N80 million from the Ministry of Transport in January 2018.
The Appeal Court held that Okafor-Anyanwu’s actions violated Sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The court also upheld the earlier order by Justice K.A. Lewanya of the Imo State High Court directing the permanent forfeiture of the diverted N180 million to the Imo State Government.
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