How Defendants Duped Me of N56.35m, Witness Tells Lagos Court

In a dramatic testimony at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, Patience Abel, the first prosecution witness, narrated how she was lured by Jennifer Kelechi and Goodnews Onyii Amah to invest a staggering N56.35 million in a non-existent business. The two defendants, who were arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 24, 2024, face charges of conspiracy, stealing, forgery, and obtaining money under false pretenses.

The charges against the defendants, including a third party, Nigel Odinaka Vitalis (who is currently at large), involve fraudulently obtaining the sum of N5.35 million from Abel under the guise of investing in a supplement business and supplies from a hospital in Uganda. The total amount swindled from Abel was N56.35 million.

Details of the Fraud:

• Abel described how she met the first defendant, Jennifer Kelechi, in May 2024 when she purchased supplements from her. Kelechi convinced Abel to invest in a supplement business, claiming that she had supplies from a hospital in Uganda.
• Although Abel initially had no funds, she decided to use her sister’s money to invest in the business, believing it to be legitimate. She first invested N3 million, then another N5 million, and finally a total of N48.35 million.
• However, Kelechi later fabricated a story about her uncle expecting a $40 million shipment, requiring $30,000 to clear the goods. This raised Abel’s suspicions, prompting her to realize she had been defrauded.
• Abel then reported the matter to the EFCC, and the investigation revealed that she had invested a total of N56.35 million, with the promise of receiving N74.75 million in return within three weeks.

Court Proceedings:

• During the trial, Abel identified her petition, which had been submitted to the EFCC, as part of the evidence. The defense counsels, Franca Umeri (for the first defendant) and A.U. Enwerum (for the second defendant), requested bail for their clients and an adjournment for cross-examination.
• The prosecution objected to the adjournment, citing the fact that the second prosecution witness was available for testimony and the first defendant’s bail application.

Ruling:

• Justice R.A. Oshodi granted the first defendant, Jennifer Kelechi, bail in the sum of N25 million with two sureties in like sum, while denying bail to the second defendant, Goodnews Onyii Amah.
• The case was adjourned to February 14, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.

This trial highlights the persistent efforts of the EFCC to tackle fraudulent activities and the growing awareness among the public regarding online and business-related scams.