The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Obasi Sunday, a staff of the Ebonyi State Accountant-General’s Office, before a Federal High Court in Abakaliki, the state capital, over alleged 61million money laundering.
In a statement on Monday, ICPC spokesperson John Odey noted that Mr Obasi, a signatory to the Ebonyi State Government Shopping Mall Account with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), was arraigned on Thursday, February 19.
He appeared before a Justice H. I. O. Oshomah, on a two- count charge filed by the ICPC.
The statement alleged that Mr Obasi withdrew a total of N61 million from a government account in August 2020 in structured tranches of N10 million and N1 million, intending to evade mandatory reporting requirements.
He also allegedly deposited N60,941,725 into the UBA account of Ikechukwu Obiukwu, a government contractor, in structured instalments to avoid statutory reporting obligations.
The statement explained that the offences contravene Section 19(1)(c) and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Read also:
- El-Rufai files N1bn suit against ICPC over illegal search of Abuja residence
- ADC stalwart asks ICPC to charge El- Rufai in court or release him
- Court dismisses ex-Abia lawmakers’ suits, affirms ICPC investigative powers
Mr Obasi pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Following his arraignment, the court granted him bail on N10 million bond, with a surety in the person of the accountant-general of the state.
The surety and the defendant are also to give written undertakings to appear in court with two recent passport photographs attached.
The court fixed March 24 and 25, for trial.
