Cubana’s prime minister, other busted in Lagos for money laundering; both plead differently

The Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC arraigned Lucky Uchechukwu Ndukwe, a manager with Cubana Group, alongside one Precious Omonkhoa Ofure before Justice Justice O.A. Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on Wedneday.

The suspects were charged with an offence bordering on conspiracy to launder money.

Ndukwe, also known as Cubana Prime Minister, and Ofure were arrested recently by operatives of the Commission, following intelligenc report of their activities.

The commission raided them and recovered $164, 000. 00, iPhone mobile devices and laptops.

The charge against them 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 (One Hundred and Sixty-four Thousand Dollars), which form part of $256,314 (Two Hundred and Fifty-six Thousand, Three Hundred and Fourteen United Sates Dollars) 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 ChangeOperator, 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.”

Ndukwe pleaded not guilty while Ofure pleaded guilty to the charge.

EFCC’s 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 Two Million Naira (N2,000,000.00) and 100 hours of community service.

The Judge also ordered the forfeiture of all the items recovered from the convict.

But Counsel to Udukwe, Chuks Arubalaeze, told the court about an application for bail on behalf of his client.

Justice Fadipe granted him bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, though the suspect remains in prison pending the perfection of his bail conditions.

The case was adjoured till  to October 28, 2022 for commencement of trial.