The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Benin Zonal Directorate, on Tuesday, November 25, arraigned one Evangeline Atanda Ibadha before Justice (Professor) C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.
Ibadha, a former manager of JustProtein, a supermarket in Benin City, was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion and diversion of funds amounting to N547.3 million.
One of the counts alleged that Ibadha, on November 1, 2022, took possession and control of N10,005,000 paid into her EcoBank account, knowing—or having reason to know—that the funds formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, namely stealing by conversion. The offence contravenes Section 18(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Another count accused her of taking control of N319,335,216 between January 2018 and January 2025, deposited into her First Bank account, likewise alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activity.
Ibadha pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following her plea, EFCC counsel, I. M. Elodi, urged the court to remand the defendant in the Correctional Service and to fix a date for trial.
However, defence counsel, Evans Ogbeifun, requested to stand as interim surety pending the filing and determination of a formal bail application.
Justice Obiozor adjourned the matter to December 8, 2025, for hearing of the bail application.