The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has arraigned one Obasi Sunday before the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, over alleged money laundering offences.
Obasi, a staff member of the Office of the Accountant-General of Ebonyi State and a signatory to the Ebonyi State Government Shopping Mall Account domiciled with United Bank for Africa, was alleged to have engaged in structured cash transactions to evade mandatory reporting requirements.
A statement on Monday by the ICPC’s spokesman, John Odey, said the defendant was arraigned before Justice H. Oshomah of the Federal High Court, Abakaliki Judicial Division, on two charges.
According to the charge, the defendant allegedly withdrew a total sum 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, the defendant deposited N60,941,725 into the UBA account of one Ikechukwu Obiukwu, a contractor to the Ebonyi State Government, in structured instalments of N10,000,000 and N941,725, with the intent to evade statutory reporting requirements.
“The offences are said to be contrary to Section 19(1)(c) and punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022,” the statement added.
Upon arraignment, Odey said the defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts.
