Ebonyi State Official Faces Money Laundering Charges|LAGOS EYE NEWS

A staff member of the Ebonyi State Government has appeared in the Federal High Court in Abakaliki facing allegations of money laundering.

Obasi Nicholas Sunday, an official at the Office of the Accountant-General of Ebonyi State, was arraigned on Thursday before Honourable Justice H. I. O. Oshomah on a two-count charge brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The case is filed under Charge No: FHC/A1/6C/25.

The commission alleges that Obasi, who is a signatory to the Ebonyi State Government Shopping Mall account at the United Bank for Africa (UBA), engaged in structured cash transactions to avoid mandatory reporting requirements.

The charges claim that in August 2020, Obasi withdrew a total of ₦61 million in six tranches of ₦10 million and one tranche of ₦1 million. During the same period, he is alleged to have deposited ₦60,941,725 into the UBA account of a government contractor, Ikechukwu Obiukwu, in structured instalments.

The alleged offences are said to contravene Section 19(1)(c) and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Obasi pleaded not guilty to both counts. Following the arraignment, ICPC counsel Mr. Agbili Ezenwa Kingsley requested a trial commencement date. Meanwhile, the defence, led by Mr. Michael Ngwu, sought bail, which the prosecution did not oppose.

The court granted bail on the following conditions: A ₦10 million naira bond, A surety, specifically the Accountant-General of Ebonyi State, The surety must provide an undertaking to ensure the defendant appears in court, with two recent passport photographs attached.

The defendant must also sign an undertaking to attend all court proceedings with two recent passport photographs attached.

The hearing has been adjourned to 24th and 25th March for the commencement of trial.