Uchechukwu Ndukwe, also known as Cubana Prime Minister, a Manager with Cubana group, has been arraigned by the EFCC for an alleged $164,000.00 money laundering in Lagos.
The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, arraigned Lucky Uchechukwu Ndukwe, a Manager with Cubana Group, alongside one Precious Omonkhoa Ofure before Justice Justice O.A. Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos for an offence bordering on conspiracy to launder and money laundering.
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In a series of tweets on its verified Twitter handle, the EFCC said the Cubana Manager was arrested recently by operatives of the commission, following credible intelligence received about their involvement in the fraudulent activity.
The commission according to a Punch news report stated that items recovered from them include the sum of $164, 000. 00 (One Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand Dollars), iPhone mobile devices and laptop computers.
The charge against the suspect reads:
“That you, Precious Omonkhoa Ofure and Lucky Uchechukwu Ndukwe, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves and laundered an aggregate sum of $164,000 which form part of $256,314 fraudulently obtained by false pretence from one Elena Bogomaz, a Canadian Citizen, and converted the fraudulent money into the United States Dollars with the help of a Bureau De Change Operator, which was then credited into the bank account of Casa Cubana Estate Limited and Lucky Uchechukwu Ndukwe respectively for the purchase of two and landed properties and committed an offence contrary to Section 330 of lhe Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
Ndukwe “pleaded not guilty”, while Ofure pleaded “guilty” to the charge, during the arraignment in court on Wednesday.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel, M.K.Bashir, reviewed the facts of the case and prayed that the defendant, Ofure, be sentenced accordingly.
Delivering judgment, Justice Fadipe found Ofure guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment on two counts of conspiracy and money laundering, with an option of fine in the sum of N2,000,000.00 and 100 hours of community service.
Forfeiture of all the items recovered from the convict, was also ordered by the Judge.
Counsel to Udukwe, Chuks Arubalaeze, sort bail for his client from the court. The application was granted by Justice Fadipe granted him bail in the sum of N5,000,000.00 with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Fadipe also ordered the remand of Udukwe in the correctional facility pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The Judge subsequently adjourned the case to October 28, 2022, for commencement of trial.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
