By Nkechi Eze
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a staff member of the Office of the Accountant-General of Ebonyi State, Obasi Nicholas Sunday, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki over alleged money laundering involving N61 million.
The defendant was arraigned on Thursday before Honourable Justice H. I. O. Oshomah of Federal High Court 1, Abakaliki, on a two-count charge filed by the Commission in Charge No: FHC/A1/6C/25.
According to an official statement signed by the Commission’s spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, Obasi, who is a staff member in the Office of the Accountant-General of Ebonyi State and a signatory to the Ebonyi State Government Shopping Mall Account domiciled with the United Bank for Africa (UBA), allegedly engaged in structured cash transactions designed to evade mandatory reporting requirements.
The ICPC alleged that in August 2020, the defendant withdrew a total sum of N61,000,000.00 from the government account in six tranches of N10,000,000.00 each and an additional N1,000,000.00, with the intent to avoid statutory reporting obligations.
The Commission further alleged that within the same period, Obasi made a cash deposit totalling N60,941,725.00 into the UBA account of one Ikechukwu Obiukwu, identified as a contractor to the Ebonyi State Government. The deposits were reportedly made in structured instalments of N10,000,000.00 and N941,725.00, also with the intent to evade mandatory reporting requirements.
According to the anti-graft agency, the alleged offences contravene Section 19(1)(c) and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Upon his arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following his plea, counsel to the ICPC, Mr. Agbili Ezenwa Kingsley, applied for a date to commence trial, while defence counsel, Mr. Michael Ngwu, moved a bail application on behalf of the defendant. The application was not opposed by the prosecution.
Justice Oshomah subsequently granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety, who must be the Accountant-General of Ebonyi State. The court also directed that the surety must sign an undertaking to produce the defendant in court and attach two recent passport photographs, while the defendant is also required to sign an undertaking to always appear in court, supported by two recent passport photographs.
The case was adjourned to March 24 and 25, 2026, for commencement of trial.
