The Enugu office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has charged the Group Managing Director of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited, Egwuche Gladys, for alleged abuse of office and stealing public funds amounting to $600,000 (N827 million).
This information was shared in a statement on the EFCC's X page on Friday. Gladys was charged alongside the company on a 12-count charge before Justice F. O. Giwa-Ogunbanjo at the Federal High Court in Independence Layout, Enugu State.
The EFCC stated that while serving as Group Managing Director, Gladys allegedly took cash payments of $50,000 in 12 separate instances between March 13, 2023, and April 11, 2023, totaling $600,000.
The first charge says, “That you, Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited and Mrs Egwuche Chinyere Gladys, while being the Group Managing Director of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited on the 13th of March, 2023 at Abakaliki, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, accepted cash payment of $50,000.
“The money was part payment for a 180220TPH Granite Stone Crushing Line you sold to Patan Nigeria Ltd and Reinforce Global Resources Ltd which exceeded the statutory required threshold of N10,000,000 without passing through a financial institution. By this, you committed an offence contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.”
The third charge states, “That you, Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited and Mrs Egwuche Chinyere Gladys, while being the Group Managing Director of Brass Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited on the 15th of March, 2023 at Abakaliki, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, accepted cash payment of $50,000, being part payment for a 180220TPH Granite Stone Crushing Line you sold to Patan Nigeria Ltd and Reinforce Global Resources Ltd (JV) which exceeded the statutory required threshold of N10,000,000, without passing through a financial institution. By this, you committed an offence contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act.”
The statement mentioned that the accused pleaded “not guilty” to all charges.
Following her plea, the EFCC lawyer, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Rotimi Ajobiewe, requested the court to set a trial date so they can prove their case. He also asked that the defendant be kept at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Enugu.
On the other hand, the defence lawyer, Roy O. U. Nwaeze (SAN), informed the court about a pending bail application. He moved to have bail granted to his client.
Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo then granted bail to the defendant for N200 million with two sureties in the same amount.
“Each of the sureties must own property within the court's jurisdiction. The court also ordered the defendant to hand over her international passport to the court’s Registrar. The EFCC will verify the addresses of the sureties within seven days. The case was postponed to November 11, 2026, for trial,” the statement concluded.
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