Woman tells court how church member allegedly collected N30.14m for slippers

Michael Olumide Alabi

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a businessman, Christopher Elendu Enyinnwa, before the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over an alleged N30.14 million fraud involving a proposed supply of slippers from China.

Enyinnwa was arraigned on Tuesday, by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a four-count charge bordering on fraudulent conversion and obtaining money under false pretences.

According to the commission, Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the defendant allegedly collected a total of N30,140,000 from a petitioner, Chidebere Love Okafor, for the proposed purchase and supply of slippers from China.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Fanen Anum, informed the court that the prosecution was ready to commence trial, adding that two witnesses were available to testify.

Defence counsel, K.C. Atuenyi, sought an adjournment, explaining that he had prepared only for the arraignment and needed more time to prepare for trial.

Justice Abike-Fadipe overruled the request and directed the prosecution to call its first witness.

The first prosecution witness, Okafor Love Chidebere, an employee of Gomac Industry Nigeria Limited, told the court that she knew the defendant as a fellow church member.

According to her, Enyinnwa had informed her that he travelled to China for business and could assist her in purchasing slippers from the country.

“He is my church member. I knew him in church. He told me he buys goods, and I approached him to buy slippers in China for me,” she told the court.

The witness explained that she provided a sample of the slippers she intended to purchase after discussing the product with the defendant.

She said Enyinnwa subsequently quoted a price that she initially considered high, as she was also negotiating with another company offering a lower price.

However, she said she eventually agreed to proceed with the transaction because she trusted him as a fellow church member.

The witness told the court that the defendant requested an initial deposit of N2 million, which she paid into his Access Bank account in August 2024.

She further testified that after returning from China, Enyinnwa presented samples of the slippers, which were subsequently amended and returned to him.

According to her, the defendant later requested N11.923 million to commence production, and the money was also paid into his Access Bank account.

She said he subsequently demanded another N15 million as the balance, which was paid to him.

The witness added that the defendant promised to return to China to arrange shipment of the goods within a short period.
However, when he failed to travel as expected, she said they contacted him, and he attributed the delay to problems with his travel documents.

She further alleged that the defendant later requested an additional N2 million to facilitate his travel documents.

She and her husband reportedly agreed to provide the money because they wanted him to return to China and complete the transaction.

According to the witness, Enyinnwa eventually travelled to China in February 2025 and later informed them that he had shipped some goods, including clothes, promising to provide the relevant documents when the shipment arrived.

She, however, told the court that the goods never arrived as promised.

The witness further stated that her pastor subsequently summoned her to his office and informed her that some of the defendant’s claims were allegedly untrue.

She said church members intervened in the dispute, during which the defendant reportedly promised to refund the money, but had yet to do so.

“The total amount is N30,140,000. Up till now, I have not seen the goods and the money,” she told the court.

During cross-examination, defence counsel requested another date to question the witness.

The prosecution subsequently urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.

Justice Abike-Fadipe adjourned the case to November 26, December 16 and 17, 2026, for continuation of the trial and ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional facility.