EFCC arraigns Uyo lawyer for allegedly stealing N1.3bn of clients’ funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Uyo Zonal Directorate has arraigned one Alexander Uchenna Ozougwu before Justice Sergius Onah of the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State for alleged fraud.

Dele Oyewale, Head, Media & Publicity, EFCC, said in a statement on Thursday, February 20, 2025, that the lawyer allegedly defrauded his victims to the tune of N1.3 billion through a bogus foreign exchange investment scheme.

He was arraigned on six counts bordering on obtaining money by false pretence in contravention of provisions of Section 18(2)(d) of the Money laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

The charges against him read partly, “That you Alexander Uchenna Ozogwu sometime in September 2024 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did take possession of the total sum of Two Hundred and Sixty Eight Million, Eight Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira Only (-N=268,850,000) through a bank account with account name- STARLIGHT ATTORNEYS which you knew formed proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an 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’.

“That you Alexander Uchenna 0zougwu sometime in July, 2024 in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did take possession of the total sum of Two Hundred and Thirteen Million Naira Only (=N=213,000,000) through a bank account with account name- STARLIGHT ATTORNEYS which you knew formed proceeds of an unlawful act to wit: obtaining money by false pretence and thereby committed an 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’.”