The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former minister of Commerce and Industry, Charles Chukwuemeka Ugwuh, for an alleged conspiracy and fraud to the tune of N3.6bn.
Ugwuh was arrested alongside Chief Geoffrey Ekenma on January 11, 2024 at No. 2, Musa Yar’Adua Way, New Owerri, Imo State, following a petition to the Commission from a new generation bank on the alleged fraud perpetrated through a company, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., linked to the ex-minister.
EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, in a statement, said investigations revealed that Ugwuh and Ekenma, managing director, Ebony Agro Industries Ltd., allegedly obtained a loan facility from the bank for the purchase and production of polished rice.
However, the suspects, according to the petitioner, failed to meet up their obligations to the bank and all efforts to get they to repay the loan facility proved abortive.
The suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.
