Gunmen on Thursday, February 20, 2014 invaded the premises of a Lagos High Court and abducted Princewill Arinze Nwododo, a suspect of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) who is currently facing trial for fraud.
In a statement released by the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren Ag. Head, Media & Publicity Unit provided details of the incident. Read his statement below:
The suspect, Princewill Arinze Nwobodo (alias Aboki J. Brown pictured above) was abducted by the gunmen within the precincts of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere where he was to be arraigned before Justice Aishat Opesanwo on a 4-count charge bordering on obtaining $92,000(Ninety-Two Thousand United States Dollar) under false pretense. The arraignment was deferred to March 27, 2014 as the court did not sit.
Nwobodo had previously been arraigned in two separate courts in Lagos on fraud related charges. He was docked on October 25, 2013 before Justice Saliu Seidu of the Federal High Court, Lagos on a 15- count charge bordering on forgery and obtaining under false pretence. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail. His inability to meet the bail conditions consigned him to prison custody till Thursday, February 20.
In the second court, he was arraigned on November 20, 2013 before Justice Aishat Opesanwo alongside Katchy Okoye and Matthew Usong on a 12-count charge that borders on conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretence. They were granted bail but could not meet the bail terms.
Nwobodo was brought to court on Thursday from Ikoyi Prison, Lagos. He was snatched by the gunmen from the Prison Warders who brought him to court.
