The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 2, on Thursday, arraigned one Chukwuka Onovo before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a one-count charge of stealing N42 million.
According to the EFCC, Onovo allegedly misappropriated proceeds from the sale of four imported vehicles entrusted to him by a petitioner, Cajetan Alinnor, who claimed the defendant had posed as a licensed auto dealer.
The vehicles included a 2009 Toyota Highlander SUV (Chassis No. JTEDS42A682067092), a 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 (Chassis No. 55SWF4KB7FU008491), a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C300, and a 2010 Mercedes-Benz C300.
The agreement reportedly required Onovo to obtain approval from Alinnor before finalizing any sale, with payments to be made directly to the petitioner, from whom Onovo would receive his commission.
However, the petitioner alleged that Onovo failed to sell the cars for over a year and became evasive when asked about their whereabouts.
A discreet investigation allegedly revealed that Onovo had already sold all four vehicles without the petitioner’s consent and used the N42 million proceeds to fund the construction of a duplex located at 42 John Okorie Street, Off Wilmer Crescent, Olodi-Apapa, Ajeromi-Ifelodun LCDA, Lagos State, where he now resides with his wife.
The charge reads:
“You, Chukwuka Samuel Onovo, sometime between January and December 2023, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with dishonest intent, stole and converted to your own use the sum of N42,000,000.00 (Forty-Two Million Naira), being proceeds from the sale of four vehicles belonging to Cajetan Alinnor, thereby committing an offence of stealing contrary to and punishable under Sections 280 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
Onovo pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following the plea, EFCC counsel A.A. Usman requested a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in a Correctional Centre.
Justice Dada granted the request, ordering Onovo’s remand and adjourning the case to October 30, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
