By Saidu Idris
365Daily – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned one Pastor Vitalis Anozie who is allegedly on the America Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Wanted List for defrauding Americans of $135,800, and $47,000 respectively.
Three others who are currently at large, Mr. Azubuike Ifeanyi Bright, Mrs. Amarachi Blessing Iro and Mr. Kelechi Patrick Iro, were also arraigned before Justice I.M Buba of the Federal High Court sitting in Enugu on a seven count charge bordering on money laundering.
Spokesperson of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, saidAnozie was arrested by the Enugu Command of the EFCC at Owerri on March 10, 2022 following actionable intelligence received by the Commission.
The defendant is alleged to have defrauded one F.F who lives in Illinois the sum of $135,800, and $47,000 from another American based in North Carolina.
Uwujaren said one of the count reads: “That you, Pastor Kelechi Vitalis Anozie, Mr Azubuike Ifeanyi Bright (now at large), Mrs Amarachi Blessing Iri (now at large) and Mr Kelechi Patrick Iro (now at large), sometime between 2017 and 2019, at Owerri within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, conspired among yourselves to commit a felony to wit: use and taking possession of fund that forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering,(Prohibition) Act,2022 and Punishable under section 18(3) of the same Act.”
Anozie pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him and was granted bail in the sum of N10, 000,000 (ten million naira) and one surety in like sum.
The case was adjourned until Friday June 10,2022 for trial.
In a related development, operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the EFCC have arrested 19 suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
The suspects include a serving corps member in the State, Adamu Shuabu and eighteen others.
Upon arrest, a Lexus car, huge sum of money suspected to be proceeds of illegal activities, different brands of phones, laptops and other incriminating materials were recovered from them.
The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations.