The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced one Obinna Kingsley Anijiofor to nine years imprisonment for offences bordering on stealing and issuing dud cheques, following his conviction on a three-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Ismail Ijelu, who delivered the judgment, found Anijiofor guilty on all counts after a full trial and ordered that the prison terms run concurrently.
Anijiofor was arraigned on February 10, 2025, by the Lagos Zonal Directorate I of the EFCC for dishonestly converting funds entrusted to him for the importation of goods. The total amount involved was $91,000 (Ninety-One Thousand United States Dollars), out of which ₦9.5 million and $32,000 were specifically cited in the charges.
According to the EFCC, the complainant, Obinna Kingsley Onwubuariri, had entrusted the money to the convict for importation purposes, but Anijiofor diverted part of it for personal use.
One of the counts stated that on December 31, 2021, Anijiofor, without sufficient funds in his United Bank for Africa account, issued a cheque valued at ₦6 million in the name of OKINGS Industrial Supply Limited for the benefit of ELLIS Suites Limited, which was returned unpaid when presented for clearing.
Another count accused him and OKINGS Industrial Supply Limited of dishonestly converting $32,000, part of the $91,000 paid for the importation of goods, to personal use sometime in 2019 in Lagos.
Anijiofor pleaded not guilty, leading to a full trial. The prosecution, led by M.K. Bashir, called three witnesses and presented several documents as evidence, while the defence called two witnesses.
After considering all arguments and evidence, Justice Ijelu convicted the defendant and sentenced him as follows:
- Two years imprisonment on count one for issuing a dishonoured cheque (without an option of fine).
- Two years imprisonment on count two for issuing a dud cheque (without an option of fine).
- Five years imprisonment on count three for stealing (without an option of fine).
The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Anijiofor will serve nine years in total.
The court also ordered him to restitute $32,000 to the complainant.
Anijiofor’s legal troubles began when he was arrested by the EFCC for dishonestly converting funds meant for importation. Following his prosecution and conviction, he has been remanded to serve his sentence at a correctional centre in Lagos.