The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared Christopher Enweremadu, a former Abia State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, and Fortune Ozoemela, an Abia resident, wanted over alleged criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds, theft, and money laundering.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale announced this in a public notice posted on the commission’s website on Wednesday, September 3.
Enweremadu served under former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, with his last known address listed as the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Umuahia, Abia State. Ozoemela, 40, is from Abia State and was last known to reside at 122 Ozoemila’s Compound, Amakama Olokoro, Umuahia.
The EFCC has urged anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices across the country, including those in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Kano, Ibadan, and others.
While the commission did not disclose specific details of the allegations against Enweremadu, he is reportedly linked to an investigation into the management of funds allocated to Abia’s 17 local government councils.
In December 2024, a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja ordered a probe into council allocations between 2019 and 2023. The EFCC was directed to investigate and submit its findings. The court also ordered the seizure of international passports belonging to Enweremadu, his former aide Erondu Uchenna Erondu, and Joy Nwanju, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
The court action followed an ex parte application by an activist who alleged that billions of naira meant for local councils were misappropriated under the watch of the named officials.
