By Nkechi Eze
The Enugu Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a legal practitioner, Barrister Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo, before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, on a 20-count charge bordering on forgery, possession of forged documents, and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N15.7 million.
According to an official signed statement by the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, the defendant was initially arraigned on January 27, 2025, on a five-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty, paving the way for full trial proceedings. He was subsequently granted bail on self-recognition.
The Commission stated that during the course of trial, the prosecution, led by Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, CSE Chikezie Raymond Edozie, called six witnesses and tendered several exhibits, all of which were admitted in evidence by the court.
At the resumed hearing on April 23, 2026, the prosecution informed the court of an amended 20-count charge, which was read to the defendant, who again pleaded not guilty. The prosecution thereafter closed its case, while the matter was adjourned to April 30, 2026, for the defendant to open his defence.
The EFCC also recalled that on March 4, 2026, the court issued a stern warning to the defendant over allegations of interfering with prosecution witnesses by allegedly harassing and intimidating them within and outside the court premises, cautioning that his bail could be revoked if such conduct persisted.
One of the counts against Nwobodo alleges that on or about January 15, 2014, within the jurisdiction of the court, he allegedly forged a land purchase receipt in the sum of N9 million, purportedly issued by one Onyekachi O. Nwocha and Christiana C. Nwocha, an offence said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Another count alleges that on or about April 25, 2014, he allegedly presented a forged land purchase receipt in the sum of N5.5 million to one Ude Chinedu Emmanuel, also purportedly issued by Onyekachukwu O. Nwocha and Christiana C. Nwocha, contrary to the same law.
The defendant, who is representing himself in court, is expected to open his defence at the next adjourned date scheduled for April 30, 2026.
