31st March, 2012
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday, March 29, 2012 arraigned Architect Nwanne Okengwu Emeh of Dunnel World Wide Limited before a Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja for allegedly obtaining various sums of money amounting to N45,033,894 from Uche Kennedy, an architect with Natuhab Consultants Limited.
Emeh was arraigned on a 16-count charge bordering on stealing before Justice Olabisi Akinlade.
She pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
However, the prosecution counsel, G.K.Latona asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial.
The defence counsel, Odu Hycinth pleaded with the court that the accused be remanded in EFCC custody claiming that she is still recovering from multiple complications from series of surgical operations she underwent last year.
However, Justice Olabisi Akinlade ordered that Emeh be remanded at the Kirikiri prison while adjourning that case to May 23, 2012.
Emeh’s road to prison began when Natuhab Consultant Limited was given a N200, 481,894 contract by the Nigerian Army to construct multiple housing units in Abuja.
Emeh is an ex- staff of Natuhab Consultants Limited and was working with one Dunnel World Wide Limited, a company she claimed is owned by her husband.
Based on a relationship between her and Uchechi Kennedy, Managing Director of Natuhab Consultants Limited, she was contracted to supervise the construction of the multiple housing units in Abuja.
Series of payments were made by Natuhab Consultants Limited into Emeh’s accounts upon her request, to facilitate the completion of the project.
The sum of N131, 078,142 was transferred into her personal account.
However, when Natuhab consultants Limited inspected the project, it was discovered that she only spent N86, 045,000 out of the total sum of N131, 078,142 that she received while diverting and converting the balance of N45, 033,894 for her personal use.
All efforts to recover the money from her failed.