Abuja, Nigeria – Despite been a well-respected politician and elder statesman, Jim Nwobodo, former governor of Anambra State during the Nigerian Second Republic and Senator for Enugu East Senatorial District in Enugu State, is currently entangled in real time most awful, corrupt, legitimately “evil shit” in an alleged housing transaction fraud, which is previously unknown but equally, highly unusual of him.
The former governor is accused of obtaining money under false pretence, fraudulent conversion, economic sabotage and financial misappropriation.
A Nigerian, Dr. Cynthia Nwakaobi based the United States of America in a letter addressed to Nigeria President Muhammad Buhari dated November 28, 2022 obtained by TimeAfrica, seriously accused the former governor of repeated financial crimes and fraud.
Dr. Nwakaobi who said she is a fraud victim, is requesting the government to compel the country’s anti graft agency Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to go after Chief Nwobodo and recover the sum of N132,500,000.00 surreptitiously obtained from her.
She alleged that the EFCC had invited the trio of Chief Jim Nwobodo his wife Patricia Nwobodo and their lawyer Barr. Eli Ugwu involved in the alleged uncleared deal but they absconded defying every other attempts to be quizzed.
The victim says the former governor took advantage of her vulnerability and naivety, adding, “it is obvious that they believe that I do not have anyone that will fight for me. My life in the United States is hell because I borrowed money from banks which I am now repaying in addition to interests. The trauma that I have experienced as a result of the shocking act and realization that I have been defrauded by people I believed and trusted as respectable members of the society is unexplainable.”
The letter reads:
“I am Dr. Cynthia Nwakaobi. I hold a doctorate degree in Business Management and live in the United States of America.
“I have always had the desire to invest some of my hard earned money from the United States of America back home in Nigeria.
“From my research, I discovered that real Estate investment is one of the safest investments one can make in his or her home country. Based on that premise, sometime in August 2021, I was introduced to landed property situate at Enugu along Agbani Road near Afor Awkunanaw Market also known as Garikki Market by Barrister Eli Ugwu who was then my legal adviser but in connivance with Chief Jim Nwobodo, his wife Mrs Patricia Nwobodo using their estate Company named SATELITE ESTATE ENUGU defrauded me the indicated amount.
“The legal adviser turned out to become my agent in paying for 6 plots of land at the said estate not knowing that he was aware that the land is encumbered and pending in court between Chief Jim Nwobodo and Amechi Awkunanaw Community under the indicate suite No.E/471/2019.
“Chief Jim Nwobodo, his wife, Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo in collusion with Barr. Elli Ugwu assured me that the land was free from any litigation and collected the sum of N132,500,000.00 as follows:N90,000,000.00, N38,000,000.00 paid into their account domiciled at the Access Bank Plc. Account No. 0728768392 and Barrister Elli Ugwu an accomplice in the fraud collected the sum of N4,500,000.00 at his ECOBANK Account No. 0019434000 as the agent of the duo. Evidence of the payments have been made available to the EFCC and attached herewith.
“My Petition to the EFCC Enugu Zonal Office was dated 29th March, 2022 and was received by EFCC accordingly. EFCC then invited the trio but only Barr. Eli Ugwu appeared before EFCC while Chief Jim Nwobodo and Patricia Nwobodo absconded defying every attempt made by EFCC Enugu to interview them. After several months of defying EFCC invitation, I learnt that they filed a motion in court for fundamental human right protection. Ever since then no action has been taken by EFCC to recover my money prompting me to seek your intervention to persuade EFCC to hunt down the trio wherever they are hiding and recover my money.
“I sincerely plead with you because I know that as the President, you will not allow fraudulent people to deprive Nigeria of foreign investments as well as taint the image of this country. It is obvious that by your position, you will protect the interest of the poor masses from fraudsters who may believe that they are above the law. I am pleading with you through this medium to intervene on my behalf to save me from the financial crimes and injustice dished out to me by this so called high and mighty.
“I cannot begin to explain vividly because you have to wear my shoes to feel how my life has been turned upside down by their wicked actions just merely because they perceive me as being vulnerable and a perfect person to take advantage of my naivety. It is obvious that they believe that I do not have anyone that will fight for me. My life in the United States is hell because I borrowed money from banks which I am now repaying in addition to interests. The trauma that I have experienced as a result of the shocking act and realization that I have been defrauded by people I believed and trusted as respectable members of the society is unexplainable. It is so bad that it has led me to depression and suicidal thoughts; my mental health is now a mess.
“I am a single mother with two boys that I am responsible for their wellbeing, I cannot in the present circumstances over emphasis the impact, damage and wreck that will be occasioned on our lives if the above mentioned people are allowed to go scot-free after defrauding me of my hard earned money simply because they feel that they are above the law. I am crying out for justice and I hope you will do whatever it takes to protect the rights of the less privileged Nigerians.
“I most humbly urge you to use your good offices to look into this matter and I plead that you direct EFCC to investigate this fraud and ensure that my money is returned to me. You might just find my dead body the next time you hear about me but still my heart tells me that your office will never allow such injustice to thrive under your watch.
“I thank you generously for taking time out of your busy schedule to attend to me. I further thank you for I have unshakable belief that your office is very professional and would not consciously degenerate to such level of shying away from its responsibilities of directing EFCC to investigate this financial fraud. As a poor lady, my questions are as follows: (1) Is Chief Jim Nwobodo and Patricia Nwobodo above the law? (2)Does Fundamental Human Rights Law suit prevent one from making a statement when invited by EFCC? (3)Why is EFCC not placing them on watch list and making effort to arrest them if they continue to defy their invitation?” the letter concluded.
For many prospective home owners in Nigeria, their dreams of having a decent roof over their heads through real estate developers fade away into misery, pain and disbelief.
In Nigeria, conviction for a crime involving fraud can lead to serious penalties, including prison time, fines, and restitution orders.
Fraud involves using a lie, deception, falsehood, or dishonesty in an attempt to gain a benefit.BIn effect, when someone employs a form of deceit to gain at someone else’s expense, it’s a form of fraud in the eyes of the law.
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