EFCC Arraigns Female Architect Over N45m Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a female architect, Nwanne Okengwu Emeh of Dunnel Worldwide Limited before the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja for allegedly obtaining various sums of money amounting to N45 million from one Architect Uche Kennedy of Natuhab Consultants Limited.

Emeh, who was arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on stealing before Justice Olabisi Akinlade, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

However, the prosecution counsel, G .K. Latona asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial.? The defence counsel, Odu Hycinth pleaded with the court that the accused be remanded in EFCC custody, alleging that she suffered multiple complications due to the series of operations she had last year.

Justice Olabisi Akinlade ordered that Emeh be remanded in Kirikiri prison while adjourning the case to May 23, 2012.

Emeh’s road to prison began when Natuhab Consultant Limited was given a N200, 481,894.00 contract by the Nigerian Army to construct multiple housing units in Abuja .

The 41-year-old Emeh, who is an ex- staff of? Natuhab Consultants Limited is working in one Dunnel Worldwide Limited, a company she claimed was owned by her husband.

Based on a relationship between her and Uchechi Kennedy (managing director of Natuhab Consultants Limited) she was said to have been contracted to supervise the construction of the multiple housing units in Abuja .

Series of payments were allegedly made by Natuhab Consultants Limited into Emeh’s accounts upon her request, to facilitate the completion of the project. The sum of N131, 078,142.00 was allegedly transferred into her personal account.

It was said that when Natuhab Consultants Limited inspected the project, it was discovered that she only spent N86, 045,000.00 out of the total sum of N131, 078,142.00 she received while diverting and converting the balance of N45, 033,894.00 for her personal use.