The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Chief Executive Officer of Panchovilla Enterprises Nigeria Limited and Panchovilla Group of Companies Limited, Ameh Kelechi Wilfred, before the Enugu State High Court over an alleged ₦200 million fraud.
Wilfred was docked before Justice H. O. Eya at the High Court sitting in Independence Layout, Enugu, alongside his two companies on a three-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.
According to the EFCC, the defendant allegedly obtained a total of ₦200 million from Classic Supermarket Limited after falsely presenting himself as the authorised mandate holder of Shop 18 at the Palms Shopping Mall, Enugu, formerly occupied by Game Nigeria.
The anti-graft agency alleged that Wilfred claimed he had the authority to lease the office space for a two-year tenancy, a representation it said was false.
The charges stated that between September 7 and October 13, 2025, the defendant allegedly collected ₦115 million in one transaction and an additional ₦85 million from the supermarket over the proposed lease agreement.
The EFCC said the alleged offences contravene the provisions of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.
When the charges were read in court, Wilfred pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea, EFCC counsel, Blessing Ngozi Obasi, asked the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendant in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial.
Counsel to the defendant, Chidiebere Lucky Obodo, informed the court that a bail application had already been filed and urged the court to grant his client bail.
Justice Eya subsequently admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of ₦1 million with one surety in the same amount.
The court ruled that the surety must be a resident of Enugu State and own landed property within the court’s jurisdiction, with a valid title registered at the Ministry of Lands.
The judge also directed the surety to deposit both the original and photocopy of the property’s title documents with the court. In addition, both the defendant and the surety are to submit two passport-sized photographs each and must be present at the next court sitting.
Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, Wilfred was remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
The case was adjourned to October 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
According to the EFCC, the case arose after Classic Supermarket Limited paid the defendant for the lease of the commercial space at Palms Shopping Mall.
However, the petitioner, Asogwa Thaddeus Ibe, reportedly discovered upon attempting to take possession of the property that the management of the shopping mall denied him access, maintaining that Wilfred had neither ownership rights nor authority to lease the premises.
