The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC has arraigned a staff member of the Ebonyi State Accountant-General’s Office, Obasi Nicholas Sunday, over alleged money laundering involving ₦61 million.
Obasi was arraigned before Justice H. I. O. Oshomah of the Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on a two-count charge marked FHC/A1/6C/25.
According to the Commission, the defendant, who is a signatory to the Ebonyi State Government Shopping Mall Account domiciled with United Bank for Africa (UBA), allegedly engaged in structured cash transactions designed to evade mandatory reporting requirements.
The ICPC alleged that in August 2020, Obasi withdrew a total of ₦61,000,000 from the government account in six tranches of ₦10,000,000 and an additional ₦1,000,000, allegedly to avoid triggering statutory reporting obligations.
The Commission further claimed that within the same period, the defendant deposited ₦60,941,725 into a UBA account belonging to Ikechukwu Obiukwu, said to be a contractor to the Ebonyi State Government.
The deposits were allegedly made in structured instalments of ₦10,000,000 and ₦941,725, also with the intent to evade reporting requirements.
The offences are said to contravene Section 19(1)(c) and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
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 the defendant. The prosecution did not oppose the bail request.
Justice Oshomah granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦10 million with one surety, who must be the Accountant-General of Ebonyi State.
The court directed that the surety must sign an undertaking to produce the defendant in court and attach two recent passport photographs. The defendant was also ordered to sign a similar undertaking with two recent passport photographs.
The case was adjourned to March 24 and 25, 2026, for the commencement of trial.