LAGOS, NIGERIA — A Lagos businessman, Christopher Elendu Enyinnwa, has been arraigned before the Special Offences Court in Ikeja over an alleged N30.14 million fraud involving the proposed importation of slippers from China, a transaction prosecutors say was built on church fellowship and betrayed trust.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought Enyinnwa before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe on a four-count charge bordering on fraudulent conversion and obtaining money under false pretences.
He pleaded not guilty.
According to the EFCC, the defendant collected N30,140,000 from a fellow church member, Chidebere Love Okafor, for the supply of slippers from China, but the goods were allegedly never delivered.
At the commencement of proceedings, prosecution counsel Fanen Anum told the court the prosecution was ready for trial, with two witnesses available.
Defence counsel K.C. Atuenyi sought an adjournment, saying he had only prepared for the arraignment. Justice Abike-Fadipe overruled the request and directed the prosecution to call its first witness.
Testifying as the first prosecution witness, Okafor, an employee of Gomac Industry Nigeria Limited, told the court she knew the defendant through their church.
“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 said.
The witness said she provided a sample of the slippers after discussions on the proposed transaction. Although she initially considered his quotation expensive compared with another company's offer, she agreed to proceed because of the trust she had in him as a fellow church member.
According to her, the defendant requested an initial deposit of N2 million, which she transferred to his Access Bank account in August 2024.
After returning from China, Enyinnwa presented samples of the slippers, which were amended and returned to him.
He allegedly demanded another N11.923 million to commence production, while a further N15 million was paid as the balance.
The witness said the defendant failed to travel back to China as promised, claiming difficulties with his travel documents.
He subsequently requested another N2 million to resolve the alleged documentation problem, which she and her husband provided.
She testified that Enyinnwa eventually travelled to China in February 2025 and later informed them he had shipped goods, including clothes, promising to provide shipping documents upon arrival. The goods allegedly never arrived.
PW1 told the court their pastor intervened after she was informed that some of the defendant's claims were allegedly untrue.
Church members also intervened, during which the defendant reportedly promised to refund the money.
“He promised to refund the money, but up until now, I have not seen the goods and the money,” she told the court.
During cross-examination, defence counsel requested another date to cross-examine the witness. Prosecution counsel 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 trial and ordered that Enyinnwa be remanded in a correctional facility.
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