The Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, arraigned Evangeline Atanda Ibadha before Justice (Professor) C. A. Obiozor of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State.
Ibadha, a 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 amounting to N547,307,016.
One of the counts states: “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 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 all charges, prompting prosecuting counsel I. M. Elodi to request that she be remanded at the Correctional Service pending trial.
However, defence counsel Evans Ogbeifun asked the court to allow him stand as an interim surety for the defendant until her bail application is filed and determined.
Justice Obiozor adjourned the case to December 8, 2025, for the hearing of the bail application.
