Fake Car Dealer Arraigned, Remanded Over Alleged N15.4 Million Fraud In Enugu

Enugu State- The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an alleged fake car dealer, Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna, before the Enugu State High Court over an alleged N15.4 million vehicle importation fraud.

Ogbonna, who reportedly operates under the business name Monpere’s Autos, was docked before Justice Vincent C. Ezeugwu of the Enugu State High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a four-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion involving N15.4 million.

According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly collected millions of naira from a customer under the pretext of importing vehicles but instead converted the money to his personal use.

One of the charges alleged that Ogbonna, sometime in September 2023 in Enugu, fraudulently converted N4 million belonging to one Mr. Paulson Nwakoby, which had been paid for the purchase of vehicles.

Another count accused him of similarly converting an additional N4 million received between November 28 and December 10, 2023, for the same purpose.

The anti-graft agency said the alleged offences contravene Section 342 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 30, Laws of Enugu State, and are punishable under Section 353(1) of the same law.

When the charges were read in court, Ogbonna pleaded not guilty.

Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Assistant Commander of the EFCC (ACE II) Rotimi Ajobiewe, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant pending the hearing of his bail application.

Justice Ezeugwu subsequently adjourned the matter until July 16, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in the EFCC’s custody.

According to the Commission, Ogbonna’s arrest followed a petition alleging that the complainant paid him N15.4 million in October 2023 to facilitate the importation of three vehicles.

The EFCC said the defendant allegedly promised to deliver the vehicles on or before December 25, 2023, but failed to do so.

The Commission further alleged that he neither supplied the vehicles nor refunded the money, prompting the petition that led to his investigation and eventual prosecution.

The case is expected to continue on July 16, when the court will hear the defendant’s bail application.

Count one of the charges reads: “Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna (trading under the name and style of Monpere’s Autos) sometime in September 2023, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Enugu State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N4, 000, 000. 00 (Four Million Naira) for the purchase of vehicles being property of Mr. Paulson Nwakoby and thereby committing an offence.

Count two: “Chukwuebuka Anacletus Ogbonna (trading under the name and style of Monpere’s Autos) sometime between 28th of November, 2023 and 10th of December, 2023, in Enugu, within the jurisdiction of the High Court of Enugu State, did commit a felony to wit: stealing by fraudulently converting to your personal use the sum of N4, 000, 000. 00 (Four Million Naira) for the purchase of vehicles being property of Mr. Paulson Nwakoby and thereby committing an offence”.