The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a legal practitioner, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo, before the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu over an alleged N15.7 million land fraud.
Nwobodo was arraigned before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo on a 20-count amended charge bordering on forgery, possession of forged documents, and obtaining by false pretence.
The defendant was initially arraigned on January 27, 2025, on a five-count charge before the same court, where he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail on self-recognition.
During the trial, prosecution counsel, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, Chikezie Raymond Edozie, presented six witnesses and tendered several exhibits, all of which were admitted in evidence.
At the resumed hearing on April 23, 2026, the prosecution informed the court of an amended charge, which was read to the defendant. He again pleaded not guilty, after which the prosecution closed its case. The matter was subsequently adjourned to April 30, 2026, for the defence to open its case.
The court had earlier, on March 4, 2026, warned the defendant against allegedly harassing and intimidating prosecution witnesses within and outside the courtroom, cautioning that his bail could be revoked if such conduct persisted.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges alleges that the defendant, on January 15, 2014, forged a land purchase receipt valued at N9 million, purportedly issued by private individuals, with intent to defraud.
Another count accuses him of presenting a forged receipt worth N5.5 million in April 2014 to a prospective buyer, also with intent to defraud.
Nwobodo, who is representing himself in the matter, is expected to open his defence at the next hearing.
