The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a Sierra Leonean, Favour Foday Kamara, over an alleged $190,324 fraud and another man, Abraham Idowu Abiara, over an alleged $626,282 fraud before separate Lagos State High Court judges in Ikeja.
The two defendants were arraigned on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorates 2 and 1, respectively.
Both pleaded not guilty to the charges, which involve alleged stealing and dishonest conversion of funds.
Kamara was arraigned by the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 before Justice O. A. Okunuga of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja.
He is facing a two-count charge bordering on stealing and fraudulent conversion of funds belonging to Henrietta Vandi, a 70-year-old United States-based Sierra Leonean.
According to the EFCC, Vandi alleged that she met Kamara during a visit to the Synagogue Church of All Nations between 2019 and 2020.
She further alleged that Kamara subsequently encouraged her to invest in Nigeria.
Investigators said Vandi later sent funds through Ria, Western Union, MoneyGram and cash transfers into Kamara’s Access Bank account for the purchase and renovation of a property at 20/30 Gbenga Ogunleye/Atobatele Street, Cele Bus Stop, Araromi, Alimosho, Lagos.
The EFCC said its investigation subsequently established that the property was allegedly purchased in Kamara’s name, while he allegedly occupied it and collected rent from tenants.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, Kamara was charged with allegedly stealing and dishonestly converting $190,324 belonging to Vandi.
One of the charges alleged that Kamara, between August 2021 and February 2025, in Lagos, “dishonestly converted to your use” the sum of $190,324 belonging to Vandi, an act the prosecution said amounted to stealing under Sections 278(1)(b) and 285(9) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Kamara, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.
Justice Okunuga subsequently adjourned the case until October 29, 2026, and ordered that Kamara be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
In a separate case, the EFCC also arraigned Abraham Idowu Abiara before Justice Ismail Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court over an alleged $626,282 fraud.
Abiara, who was arraigned by the EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, is facing a one-count charge of stealing and dishonest conversion of funds.
The commission alleged that Abiara, on or about September 2, 2015, in Lagos, dishonestly converted to his use the aggregate sum of $626,282.
He also pleaded not guilty to the charge.
EFCC counsel, C.C. Okezie, subsequently urged the court to remand Abiara in a correctional facility and fix a date for further proceedings.
Justice Ijelu adjourned the matter until October 26, 2026, for hearing of the defendant’s bail application, with trial also scheduled to commence.
