This was disclosed in a statement made available on the X account of the EFCC on Wednesday.
The statement noted that Unije allegedly committed the offences between May and June 2022 by selling a non-existent land to one Igwe Cosmas in connivance with one Chinonye Unije, a deceased.
Following the arrest of the suspect, he was brought before Justice M. G. Umar of a Federal High Court sitting in Enugu where he pleaded not guilty to the counts.
The statement read, “The Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned Kingsley Chinonye Unije, for forgery, obtaining money by false pretence and money laundering to the tune of N340,000,000 (Three Hundred and Forty Million Naira only).
“He was arraigned on Wednesday 22, November 2023, before Justice M.G Umar of Federal High Court sitting Enugu, on five-count charges bordering on forgery, obtaining money by false and money laundering.
“Count one of the charges reads; That you KINGSLEY CHINONYE UNIJE sometime between May and June 2022 in Enugu State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N170,000,000.00 from Igwe Cosmas Ezeumeh under the pretense that you were selling to him two landed property known as plot 81 and 304 at New layout Enugu with the consent of Late Mrs Victoria Unije which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) (a) of Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud-related offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same act.
“Count two read: That you KINGSLEY CHINONYE UNIJE sometime between May and June 2022, in Enugu State, within the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria converted the sum of (120,000,000.00) by purchasing two landed properties in your name, and one in the name of Michael Emeka Bernard knowing that the said money formed part of your unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Act and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same act.
“The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him.”
Following Unije’s not-guilty plea, Justice Umar ordered that the suspect be remanded in Correctional Centre while the case was adjourned till January 30, 2024, for a hearing.
“Given his plea, prosecution counsel, Al’qasim Jaafar prayed for a trial date and the remand of the defendant in a Correctional Centre. Meanwhile, defence counsel, Beatrice Nwatueze prayed to the court for the bail of his client.
“After listening to both counsels, Justice Umar remanded the suspect in a Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter to January 30, 2024, for hearing of the bail application,” the statement concluded.
