Justice Friday Ogazi of a Federal High Court, Lagos, today, ordered the remand of a man, Benjamin Umanah Emmanuel, for allegedly laundering the sum of N87 million.
The judge remanded the man after he was arraigned before the court by the operatives of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, in a charge marked FHC/L/770c/25.
The defendant, according to the prosecutor, Y. Momoh, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) committed the offences on June 2025.
The defendant was alleged to have acquired, retained and took possession of mentioned sum belonging to Onibonokuta Kolawole Evans, while knowing the said sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.
He was also alleged to have directly converted the mentioned sum to his own use and benefit.
The prosecutor told the court that the offences committed by the defendant, contravened sections 18(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
The defendant, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Meanwhile, further hearing of the matter has been adjourned to October 10.
Charges against the defendant reads: “that you Benjamin Umanah Emmanuel ‘M’ on or about the Month of June, 2025 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did directly convert to your own use and benefit the sum of Eighty-Seven Million Naira (N87, 000, 000.00) only, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that the said sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed and offence contrary to Section 18(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.
“That you BENJAMIN UMANAH EMMANUEL ‘M’ on or about the Month of June, 2025 in Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud did directly acquire, retain and take possession of Eighty-Seven Million Naira (N87, 900, 000. 00) only, belonging to Onibonokuta Kolawole Evans, knowingly or reasonably ought to have known that the said sum forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed and 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.”
