EFCC arraigns bank MD, one other for alleged N19m, $30,000, N20m fraud

Nkereuwem Effiong

The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, arraigned Blessing Gozi-Anyaokei, Managing Director of Viscount Microfinance Bank, before Justice Y. Halilu of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, over alleged fraud.

She is being prosecuted on a two-count charge bordering on illegal conversion and obtaining money by false pretence.

Count one reads: “That you, Blessing Gozi-Anyaokei, sometime in 2022 at Abuja, within the judicial division of this Honourable Court, while being the Managing Director of Viscount Microfinance Bank, were entrusted with the sum of Nineteen Million Naira (N19,000,000.00) by Ernest Terkula Jor for investment, and you dishonestly converted the same to your own use in violation of the mode in which the contract was to be discharged, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990) and punishable under Section 312 of the same Act.”

Count two reads: “That you, Blessing Gozi-Anyaokei, sometime in 2022 at Abuja, within the judicial division of this Honourable Court, while being the Managing Director of Viscount Microfinance Bank, were entrusted with the sum of Thirty Thousand United States Dollars ($30,000.00) by Ernest Terkula Jor for investment, and you dishonestly converted the same to your own use in violation of the mode in which the contract was to be discharged, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990) and punishable under Section 312 of the same Act.”

She pleaded “not guilty,” following which prosecution counsel, S.N. Robert, prayed the court for a trial date.

Justice Halilu granted the defendant bail with two sureties who must own landed property within Abuja. The defendant was also ordered to deposit her travel documents with the court and must not travel outside the country except with the court’s permission.

The matter was adjourned until July 19, 2026, for commencement of trial.

In a related development, the Abuja Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on Monday, May 11, 2026, brought Ugochukwu Daniel Ifeanachor before Justice J.O. Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja, to face alleged fraud charges.

Ifeanachor is facing a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, advance fee fraud and money laundering involving N20 million.

Count one reads: “That you, Ugochukwu Daniel Ifeanachor, sometime in 2025 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained from one Mr Ezekwuche Chinedu Paul the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira Only) under the pretence that the money was meant for the purchase of 55 all-in-one desktop computer systems, a pretence you knew to be false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”

Count two reads: “That you, Ugochukwu Daniel Ifeanachor, sometime in 2025 at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directly used the sum of N20,000,000.00 (Twenty Million Naira) through your Access Bank account, bearing account name Daniel Ugochukwu Ifeanachor, with account number 0095073052, knowing that such funds were proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: obtaining money under false pretence, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.”

He pleaded “not guilty,” prompting prosecution counsel, Joyce Audu, to request a trial date.

According to Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday, 14 May 2026, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter until July 6, 2026, and ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, pending commencement of trial.