By Chinenye Onwusonye

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a legal practitioner, Barrister Benjamin Chukwuemeka Nwobodo, before the Federal High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, over an alleged N15.7 million land fraud involving forgery, possession of forged documents, and obtaining by false pretence.

In a statement signed by the Head, Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, and dated April 23, 2026, the Commission disclosed that the defendant was brought before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo on a 20-count amended charge. The statement noted that the charges were expanded from an earlier five-count charge filed on January 27, 2025, to which the defendant had pleaded not guilty.

The statement further explained that following his initial arraignment, Nwobodo was granted bail on self-recognition, while trial proceedings commenced thereafter. During the course of the trial, prosecution counsel, Chief Superintendent of the EFCC, Chikezie Raymond Edozie, presented six witnesses and tendered several exhibits, all of which were admitted in evidence.

According to the Commission, when the matter came up on April 23, 2026, the prosecution informed the court of the amended charge, which was read to the defendant. He again pleaded not guilty, after which the prosecution closed its case. The matter was subsequently adjourned to April 30, 2026, for the defence to open its case.

The EFCC also recalled that on March 4, 2026, the court issued a strong warning to the defendant over alleged harassment and intimidation of prosecution witnesses both within and outside the court premises, warning that his bail could be revoked if such conduct persisted.

Details of the charge indicated that Nwobodo allegedly forged a land purchase receipt valued at N9 million on January 15, 2014, purportedly issued by Onyekachi O. Nwocha and Christiana C. Nwocha. He was also accused of presenting another forged receipt worth N5.5 million to one Ude Chinedu Emmanuel in April 2014.

The defendant, who announced appearance for himself, is expected to open his defence on Thursday, April 30, 2026.