Lawyer arrested over N23m scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 17, 2016 arrested one Monye Iweobi, a lawyer, for allegedly obtaining money by false pretence through a property deal.

Sometimes in May 2015, Iweobi, who is also a retired staff of the Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, allegedly obtained the sum of N23million (Twenty Three Million Naira) from one Pat Eugene Nwachukwu Egbunna, after they both entered into a deal to sell a property located at 18/20 Rumuwokeh Street, Rumuibekwe, Port Harcourt.

Egbunna alleged that the Iweobi wanted to sell his property for N30million, but after negotiation, he agreed to be paid N27million. A part payment of N3.5million (Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira) was paid to the accused person in cash. He later transferred the sum of N23million (Twenty Three Million Naira) to Iweobi.

However, the accused person declined to hand over the property to Egbunna, neither did he refund the money. Instead, Iweobi claimed that the money he received was for repayment of loan, which he had over time given to Egbunna.

In the meantime, the Commission has recovered N7million (Seven Million Naira) from the accused person, which was part of the money collected from Egbunna.

The accused person will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.