EFCC arraigns man for alleged ₦55m fraud in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, arraigned one Gabriel Celestine Nwawuzor, before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, for ₦55m fraud.

Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Friday, stated that Nwawuzor was arraigned alongside Moonlink Pharmaceuticals Limited on a three-count charge related to fraud and money laundering to the tune of N55,000,000 (Fifty-Five Million Naira).

One of the counts read: “That you Gabriel Celestine Nwawuzor and Moonlink Pharmaceuticals Limited sometime in April, 2021, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court procured the account number 2170235882 domiciled in Zenith Bank to retain the sum of N55, 000, 000.00 (Fifty Five Million Naira) which sum you knew forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 21(a), 18(2)(d) of the of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

Another count read: “That you Gabriel Celestine Nwawuzor and Moonlink Pharmaceuticals Limited sometime in April, 2021, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court indirectly disguised the the origin of the sum of N55, 000, 000.00 (Fifty Five Million Naira) to the purchase of a property located at No. 23, Okenwa Okolo Street, Opana Asaba, Delta State, which sum you knew forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18(2)(a) of the of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him.

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, S. I. Suleiman, prayed for a trial date and the defendant’s remand in a Correctional Facility pending trial.

However, defence counsel, through a bail application, prayed the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms.

Justice Osiagor admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of ₦100 million, with two sureties in like sum.

The court, however, remanded Nwawuzor in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions. The case was adjourned to March 11 and 12, 2026, for trial.