EFCC Arraigns Man for ₦55m Fraud in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 arraigned one Gabriel Celestine Nwawuzor, before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos for ₦55m fraud.

Nwawuzor was arraigned alongside Moonlink Pharmaceuticals Limited, on a 3-count charge bordering on fraud and money laundering to the tune of N55,000,000 (Fifty Five Million Naira)

One of the counts reads: “That you Gabriel Celestine Nwawuzor and Moonlink Pharmaceuticals Limited sometime in April, 2021, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court procured the account number 2170235882 domiciled in Zenith Bank to retain the sum of N55, 000, 000.00 ( Fifty Five Million Naira) which sum you knew forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 21(a), 18(2)(d) of the of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

Another count reads: “That you Gabriel Celestine Nwawuzor and Moonlink Pharmaceuticals Limited sometime in April, 2021, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court indirectly disguised the the origin of the sum of N55, 000, 000.00 (Fifty Five Million Naira) to the purchase of a property located at No. 23, Okenwa Okolo Street, Opana Asaba, Delta State, which sum you knew forms part of the proceeds of your unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18(2)(a) of the of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022 and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him

In view of his plea, prosecution counsel, S. I. Suleiman prayed for a trial date and the defendant’s remand in a Correctional Facility pending trial.

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However, defence counsel through a bail application, prayed the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms.

Justice Osiagor admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of ₦100 million, with two sureties in like sum.

The court however remanded Nwawuzor in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The case was adjourned to March 11 and 12, 2026, for trial.