July 7, 2025
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, on Monday, July 7, 2025, arraigned two individuals, Abel Egerton Sokari and Nkiruka Chukwuma, alongside a company, Zakah Global Investment Limited, before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos.
The defendants were brought before the court on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, possession of fraudulent documents, and forgery amounting to Forty-Nine Million Euros (€49,000,000).
According to the EFCC, the accused persons allegedly defrauded their victims using fake documents and fraudulent representations, with the intent to illegally acquire the funds.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Abel Egerton Sokari, Nkiruka Chukwuma, and Zakah Global Investment Limited, between 2017 and 2019 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired among yourselves to obtain the sum of €49,000,000 (Forty-Nine Million Euros) under false pretence, contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all charges when read to them in court.
Following their plea, the prosecuting counsel requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending the determination of their bail application. The defence team, however, prayed for bail on liberal terms.
Justice Dada adjourned the case till July 25, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered the defendants to be remanded in custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service.
The EFCC noted that the arraignment followed thorough investigations triggered by a petition alleging fraudulent financial dealings involving forged documents and deceitful representations.
