Six suspects alleged to have defrauded unsuspecting Nigerians in various crimes, including land and property transactions, have been apprehended by the operatives of the Uyo zonal directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
LEADERSHIP Sunday learnt at the weekend that they were formally arraigned before Justice Onah Sergius, of the Federal High Court 2, sitting in Uyo, the state capital, for their alleged involvement in land fraud.
EFCC’s head of Media and Publicity at the Uyo directorate of the anti-graft agency, Dele Ojewale, stated that the defendants, Emmanuel Edet Okon, Essein Edem Archibong, Edet Sam Udoh (alias Enobong Clement Etim), Edwin Etim, Anthony Christopher Atauyo and Imaikop Okon Dickson, were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on “money laundering offences, conspiracy and obtaining by false pretence.”
The particulars of the case recalled that “in July 2025, in Uyo, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, using account number 1027675758 domiciled in United Bank for Africa (UBA), took possession of N5.980 million, knowing that the said money formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: obtaining money by false pretence, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”
But the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them and in view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Khamis Mahmoud, prayed the court to fix a date for the prosecution to call its witnesses and establish its case against the respondents.
However, the Defence counsel, Peter Ekpo, Nsikak Edet, and Emmanuel Udo, prayed the court for a short date to enable the prosecution file formal bail applications for the defendants.
After listening to both sides, Justice Onah adjourned to November 24, 2025, for bail hearing and trial, and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre (NCC), Uyo.
