Two women, Blessing Chima (47) and Chikamson Williams (49), appeared before the Federal High Court on Wednesday, facing charges related to N75m money laundering.
The defendants were brought before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa on four counts involving conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, illegal conversion, and money laundering, as alleged by the police.
According to police prosecutor, S.O. Ayodele, the offences occurred between July 4 and 5, 2024.
Ayodele informed the court that the first defendant, Chima, received N75m in two payments of N25m and N50m from Mr. Lanre Afebuameh, claiming she would exchange it for Chinese Yen and send it to his clients in China, knowing the claim to be false.
The prosecutor further alleged that the second defendant, Williams, received N140m in 2024, part of which was stolen from Afebuameh by Chima. Williams was accused of knowingly acquiring, using, retaining, and possessing money that was the proceed of crime.
Ayodele stated that the offences violate Sections 1(1)(c) and punishable under Section 1(3), 383, 390(9), 18(1) 2(d), 3, 20(a) & (b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006, 2004, and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Defendants Plead “Not Guilty”
Both defendants entered a “not guilty” plea.
Following this, the prosecutor presented the first prosecution witness, Mr. Lanre Afebuameh, who is the alleged victim of the fraud.
Afebuameh, a businessman involved in solid minerals mining, recounted how he met Chima, who claimed to be a licensed Bureau de Change operator.
He testified that he had conducted two successful transactions with her before the disputed third transaction.
Regarding the last transaction, Afebuameh stated that he transferred N25m to Chima’s business account on July 4, 2024, followed by another N50m on July 5, expecting the equivalent amount in Chinese Yen to be sent to his customers in China.
However, Chima allegedly sent only the Yen equivalent of N3m and provided excuses for failing to complete the transaction.
