Alleged Ponzi operator Adonu Ifeanyi charged with N10.013bn theft, money laundering, remanded in Ikoyi prison
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of a Ponzi Scheme operator, Adonu Kingsley Ifeanyi charged with theft and money laundering in the Nigerian Correctional Centre Ikoyi pending the hearing of his bail application.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC) has charged the Ponzi scheme operator, Adonu Kingsley Ifeanyi before the Court on a five count-charge bothering on alleged stealing and money laundering to the tune of N10, 013, 237, 842 billion.
Adonu Kingsley Ifeanyi, who allegedly laundered the aforementioned sum of N10, 013, 237,842 billion in tranches through his company names S.Mobile Netzone Limited and Setbiz Datalink Concept Limited was arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke by the EFCC on Thursday, in a charge marked FHC/L/280c/2025.
When the matter was called for arraignment, the prosecutor, Suleiman I. Suleiman Esq informed the court that a five- count charge against the defendant was before the vourt and applied that the charge be read to him.
The prosecutor informed the court that the alleged Ponzi scheme operator, who claimed to be operating in partnership with MTN telecommunication Limited, committed the offence between June 4, 2021 and July 22, 2022.
Specifically, the prosecutor informed the court that the defendant took possession of the aforementioned sums which he knew to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant warehoused the said sum in some banks account belonging to Setbiz Datalink Concept Limited.
He told the court that the illicit acts of the defendant is contrary to Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
After listening to the charge read to him, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In view of his not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date, and as well urged the court to remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), pending his trial.
Responding to the prosecutor’s request, counsel to defendant, Chibuike Opara Esq , while not opposed to the trial date as requested by the prosecutor, but made oral application asking the court to remand his client in the EFCC facility, pending when his bail application will be filed and determined.
But the prosecutor opposed the application on the ground that once a defendant has been arraigned, the proper custody is the Correctional center.
Ruling on the issue, Justice Aneke ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi center of the NCoS. He adjourned the matter to July 4, for hearing of the bail application.
The charges against the defendant read: “that you ADONU KINGSLEY IFEANYI between 4th June, 2021 and 23rd July, 2021, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession of the total sum of N1,076,337,842 (One Billion, Seventy Six Million, Three Hundred and Thirty Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Two Naira) through a bank account with account name ‘S.Mobile Netzone Limited’.
“That you ADONU KINGSLEY IFEANYI between 2nd June, 2021 and 14th July, 2021, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession of the total sum of N656,400,000.00 (Six Hundred and Fifty Six Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) through a bank account with account name ‘S.Mobile Netzone Limited
“That you ADONU KINGSLEY IFEANYI between 15th January, 2021 and 14th April, 2022, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession of the total sum of N6, 791, 500,000.00 (Six Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety One Million, Five Hundred Thousand) through a bank account with account name ‘S.Mobile Netzone Limited’
“That you Adonu Kingsley Ifeanyi between 23rd March, 2022 and 26tb July, 2022, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession of the total sum of N959, 000, 000.00 (Nine Hundred and Fifty Nine Million Naira) through a bank account with account name ‘S.Mobile Netzone Limited.
“That you Adonu Kingsley Ifeanyi between 15th March, 2022 and 31st March, 2022, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did take possession of the total sum of N530, 000, 000 (Five Hundred and Thirty Million Naira) through a bank account with account name ‘Setbiz Datalink Concept Limited.”
