The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned the Managing Director of Viscount Microfinance Bank, Blessing Gozi-Anyaokei, and another defendant, Ugochukwu Daniel Ifeanachor, before the Federal High Court in Abuja over separate alleged fraud cases involving millions of naira and foreign currency.
Gozi-Anyaokei was arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Y. Halilu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a two-count charge bordering on alleged illegal conversion and obtaining money under false pretence.
According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly converted N19 million and $30,000 entrusted to her by one Ernest Terkula Jor for investment purposes.
One of the charges alleged that the defendant, while serving as Managing Director of Viscount Microfinance Bank in 2022, dishonestly converted the N19 million investment fund to personal use in violation of the terms of the agreement.
Another count accused her of similarly converting the sum of $30,000 entrusted to her for investment purposes.
The offences were said to contravene Sections 311 and 312 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, Abuja, 1990.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following her plea, prosecution counsel, S.N. Robert, asked the court to fix a date for trial.
Justice Halilu subsequently granted the defendant bail on the condition that she provides two sureties with landed property within Abuja. The court also ordered her to deposit her travel documents and restrained her from travelling outside the country without the court’s approval.
The matter was adjourned until July 19, 2026, for commencement of trial.
In a related development, the EFCC on Monday arraigned Ifeanachor before Justice J.O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over an alleged N20 million fraud.
The defendant is facing a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud and money laundering.
According to the anti-graft agency, Ifeanachor allegedly obtained N20 million from one Ezekwuche Chinedu Paul in 2025 under the pretext of supplying 55 units of all-in-one desktop computer systems, a representation the prosecution said he knew to be false.
The EFCC further alleged that the defendant used the sum of N20 million through his Access Bank account, knowing that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The offences allegedly contravene provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following the plea, prosecution counsel, Joyce Audu, requested a trial date.
Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the commencement of trial.
