ICPC arraigns Ebonyi Accountant-General’s office staff over alleged N61m money laundering

By Johnson Arua

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Obasi Nicholas Sunday before the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, over alleged money laundering offences involving more than N61 million.

Obasi was docked on Thursday before Justice H.I.O. Oshomah of Federal High Court 1, Abakaliki, on a two-count charge marked FHC/A1/6C/25.

The defendant, 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), is accused of engaging in structured cash transactions to evade mandatory reporting requirements.

According to the charge, Obasi allegedly withdrew a total sum of N61,000,000 from the government account in August 2020. The withdrawals were said to have been made in six tranches of N10,000,000 each and an additional N1,000,000, allegedly to avoid triggering statutory reporting obligations.

The Commission further alleged that within the same period, the defendant 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 reportedly made in structured instalments of N10,000,000 and N941,725, also with the intent to evade reporting requirements.

The alleged offences were said to contravene Section 19(1)(c) and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts.

Counsel to the ICPC, Mr. Agbili Ezenwa Kingsley, subsequently applied for a trial date, while defence counsel, Mr. Michael Ngwu, moved a bail application on behalf of his client.The prosecution did not oppose the application.

Justice Oshomah 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 required to sign an undertaking to produce the defendant in court, attaching two recent passport photographs. The defendant is also to sign a similar undertaking with two recent passport photographs.

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

The ICPC spokesperson, Okor Odey, confirmed the development in a statement.