The Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Lucky Ndukwe aka Cubana Prime Minister, an associate of Obi Cubana, for alleged money laundering.
The EFCC arraigned Ndukwe, who is a manager with Cubana Group, before Justice Justice O.A. Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State. Also arraigned was Precious Ofure.
According to the EFCC, items recovered from them during their arrest include the sum of $164, 000. 00, iPhone mobile devices and laptop computers.
The charge against the suspect reads: “That you, Precious Omonkhoa Ofure and Lucky Uchechukwu Ndukwe, sometime in 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspire amongst yourselves and laundered an aggregate sum of $164,000 which form part of $256,314 fraudulently obtained by false pretence from one Elena Bogomaz, a Canadian Citizen, and converted the fraudulent money into the United States Dollars with the help of a Bureau De Change Operator, which was then credited into the bank account of Casa Cubana Estate Limited and Lucky Uchechukwu Ndukwe respectively for the purchase of two and landed properties and committed an offence contrary to Section 330 of lhe Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
During their arraignment on Wednesday, Ndukwe “pleaded not guilty” while Ofure pleaded “guilty” to the charge.
Consequently, the prosecution counsel, M.K. Bashir, reviewed the facts of the case and prayed that the defendant, Ofure, be sentenced accordingly.
Delivering judgment, Justice Fadipe found Ofure guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment on two counts of conspiracy and money laundering, with an option of fine in the sum of N2 million and 100 hours of community service.
The judge also ordered the forfeiture of all the items recovered from the convict.
Counsel to Cubana Prime Minister, Chuks Arubalaeze, told the court about an application for bail on behalf of his client.
Justice Fadipe granted him bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Fadipe also ordered the remand of Cubana Prime Minister in the correctional facility pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case to October 28, 2022, for commencement of trial.
