In Enugu, two individuals have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Enugu Zonal Command. They are accused of running a bureau de change business without a necessary license and engaging in currency racketeering.
Nweke Daniel Kelechi and Iroude Chibuzor are the defendants who appeared before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar at the Federal High Court located in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
The arrest of these individuals followed extensive surveillance and actionable intelligence operations carried out by the EFCC in Enugu. The sting operation took place near United Bank for Africa (UBA), ESBS, Enugu State.
Initially, Chibuzor was apprehended during the sting operation. However, further investigations revealed that he was working under the authorization of Kelechi to sell new Naira notes.
The charge brought against them states: “You, Iroude Chibuzor, Nweke Daniel Kelechi, and Anichebe Chioma Grace (who is currently at large), on a date in May 2024 at Amadeo Event Centre, Oatlands Hotel in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, did engage in the hawking of Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N850,000.00) in Five Hundred Naira (N500.00), Two Hundred Naira (N200.00), and One Hundred Naira (N100.00) denominations, issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, thereby contravening Section 21 (4) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, punishable under Section 21 (1) of the same Act.”
When the charge was read to them, they both pleaded “not guilty.”
After their plea, Michael Ikechukwu Ani, representing the EFCC, requested the court to set a trial date and to have the defendants remanded at Enugu State Correctional facility.
On the other hand, defense counsel, Nnaedozie Emmanuel, informed the court about a pending bail application for the accused but was unable to proceed with it as it was not ready for a hearing.
The case was adjourned to June 6, 2024, for a bail application hearing, and in the meantime, the defendants were remanded at Enugu State Correctional Facility.