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.
Disclosing the development in a statement signed by J. Okor Odey, Spokesperson for the Commission, the ICPC said Obasi was docked on Thursday before Justice H. I. O. Oshomah of the Federal High Court, 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 the United Bank for Africa (UBA), allegedly engaged in structured cash transactions designed to evade statutory reporting requirements.
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 each and an additional ₦1,000,000, with the intent to avoid mandatory disclosure obligations.
The Commission further alleged 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 deposit was reportedly made in structured instalments of ₦10,000,000 and ₦941,725 to circumvent statutory reporting thresholds.
The alleged 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.
Upon arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts.
Counsel to the ICPC, Mr. Agbili Ezenwa Kingsley, 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 application.
The court subsequently granted bail to the defendant in the sum of ₦10 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 an undertaking to attend all court proceedings, with two recent passport photographs attached.
The matter was adjourned to March 24 and 25, 2026, for commencement of hearing.
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