The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a director in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs. Adiobome Blessing Lere-Adams, over alleged money laundering and corruption involving funds traced to a subordinate.
Mrs. Lere-Adams was docked on Monday before Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on a six-count charge bordering on unlawful receipt and retention of funds suspected to be proceeds of corruption.
The charges, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/551/2025, stem from transactions said to have occurred between August 2022 and January 2024 within the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly received multiple cash transfers from a subordinate, Mr. Henry David, funds which prosecutors claim she “knew or reasonably ought to have known” were proceeds of corrupt practices.
The ICPC prosecution team, led by Mrs. Onwuka Ngozi, further alleged that Lere-Adams transferred significant portions of the funds to her husband, Mr. Olujimi Lere-Adams, and into a Fidelity Bank account belonging to her son, Jafe Joel Lere-Adams, despite being aware of the illicit origin of the money.
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One of the counts alleges that on or about August 18, 2022, the defendant, while serving as a director at the ministry, directly took possession of and retained N2,000,000 transferred into her First Bank account by the subordinate.
Prosecutors said the act contravenes Section 18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
She is also accused of breaching provisions of the Penal Code (Northern Nigeria) Federal Provisions Act and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The defendant, represented by Nduka, pleaded not guilty to all six counts.
Following a bail application by the defence, Justice Liman granted her bail in the sum of N5 million with one surety in like sum.
The court ruled that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, provide a verifiable address, submit two passport photographs for verification by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and file a sworn affidavit alongside three years’ tax clearance certificates.
At the request of the defence, and without opposition from the prosecution, the court granted a 72-hour window for the defendant to perfect the bail conditions, warning that failure to comply would lead to revocation.
The matter was adjourned till April 20, 2026, for hearing.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, the ICPC said it remains committed to ensuring that public officials who abuse their offices for personal enrichment are held accountable under the law.
