Two women, Blessing Chima, 47, and Chikamso Williams, 49, were charged on Wednesday before the Federal High Court over allegations of laundering N75 million.
The duo appeared before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa, facing four charges, including conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretenses, illegal conversion, and money laundering. The charges were brought against them by the police.
According to police prosecutor S.O. Ayodele, the alleged crimes took place between July 4 and 5, 2024.
Ayodele told the court that Chima, the first defendant, fraudulently obtained N75 million in two transactions N25 million and N50 million from one Mr. Lanre Afebuameh. She had promised to exchange the money for Chinese Yen and send it to his clients in China, knowing the claim was false.
The prosecutor further stated that Williams, the second defendant, received N140 million at some point in 2024. A portion of this money reportedly belonged to Afebuameh and was allegedly stolen by Chima. Despite knowing or at least suspecting that the funds were proceeds of crime, Williams still acquired, used, and retained the money.
The charges against them violate multiple sections of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act (2006) and the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act (2022).
