The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday November 25, 2025 arraigned one Evangeline Atanda Ibadha before Justice (Professor)  C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.

Ibadha who was the former manager of JustProtein, a Supermarket Store in Benin City was arraigned on a five count charge bordering on stealing by conversion and diversion of funds to the tune of  N547,307,016( Five Hundred and Forty Seven Million,  Three Hundred and Seven Thousand,  Sixteen  Naira only )

One of the count reads:

“That you Evangeline Atanda Ibaha (f) on or about the 1st day of November,2022 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did indirectly take possession and control of the of the sum of Ten Million Five thousand naira (N10,005,000)  which was paid into your account No. 4990092639 domiciled with Eco Bank operated by you which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act to wit: stealing by conversion and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition ) Act 2022 and punishable under section 18(3) of the same Act.

Another count reads” That you Evangeline Atanda Ibadha (f) sometime between January 2018 to January 2025 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did indirectly take possession and control of the aggregate sum of Three Hundred and Nineteen Million Three Hundred and Thirty Five Thousand Two Hundred and Sixteen Naira (N319,335,216.00)  which was paid into your account No. 3007525066 domiciled with First Bank Plc operated by you which sum you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act to wit: stealing by conversion and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition ) Act 2022 and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act.

Upon arraignment,   the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against her by the Commission,   prompting the prosecution counsel, I. M Elodi to pray the court to remand her at the Correctional Service and fix a date for trial.  However,  defence counsel,  Evans Ogbeifun prayed the court to be an interim surety to the defendant pending the filing and determination of the bail application.

Justice Obiozor adjourned the case to December 8, 2025, for hearing of the bail application.

Dele Oyewale

Head,  Media & Publicity

November 25, 2025