ICPC Arraigns Ebonyi Official Over Alleged N61m Money Laundering

ICPC Arraigns Ebonyi Official Over Alleged N61m Money Laundering

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arraigned a staff member of the Office of the Accountant-General of Ebonyi State, Obasi Nicholas Sunday, over alleged money laundering involving N61 million.

The defendant was brought before the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Thursday and arraigned before Justice H. I. O. Oshomah on a two-count charge marked FHC/A1/6C/25.

In a statement signed by the Commission’s spokesperson, Okor Odey, the ICPC alleged that Obasi, who is a signatory to the Ebonyi State Government Shopping Mall Account domiciled with the United Bank for Africa, engaged in structured cash transactions designed to evade mandatory reporting requirements.

According to the charge, the defendant allegedly withdrew a total of N61,000,000 from the government account in August 2020 in six tranches of N10,000,000 and an additional N1,000,000, with the intent to avoid reporting obligations.

The Commission further alleged that within the same period, Obasi made a cash deposit of N60,941,725 into the UBA account of one Ikechukwu Obiukwu, described as a contractor to the Ebonyi State Government. The deposit was also allegedly made in structured instalments of N10,000,000 and N941,725 to evade statutory reporting requirements.

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

Upon his arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts. Counsel to the ICPC, Mr. Agbili Ezenwa Kingsley, applied for a trial date, while defence counsel, Mr. Michael Ngwu, moved a bail application on behalf of his client, which was not opposed by the prosecution.

The court granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety, who must be the Accountant-General of the state. The surety is to sign an undertaking to produce the defendant in court with two recent passport photographs attached. The defendant is also required to sign a similar undertaking.

The matter was adjourned to March 24 and 25, 2026, for commencement of hearing.