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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has brought money-laundering charges against Obasi Sunday, an employee in the Office of the Accountant-General of Ebonyi State, before the Federal High Court in Abakaliki.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the ICPC spokesperson, John Odey, the defendant appeared before Justice H. Oshomah at the Abakaliki Judicial Division on a two-count charge bordering on alleged financial misconduct.
The Commission accused Obasi, who is a signatory to the Ebonyi State Government Shopping Mall account domiciled in United Bank for Africa, of deliberately structuring cash withdrawals to sidestep statutory reporting requirements. Prosecutors alleged that in August 2020, he withdrew N61 million from the government account in six separate withdrawals of N10 million each, along with an additional N1 million, in a bid to avoid regulatory scrutiny.
The ICPC further claimed that within the same period, Obasi transferred N60,941,725 into the UBA account of Ikechukwu Obiukwu, described as a contractor with the Ebonyi State Government. The deposits were allegedly made in installments of N10 million and N941,725, also structured to evade mandatory reporting thresholds.
The alleged offences are said to contravene Section 19(1)(c) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and are punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.
Obasi pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him. During proceedings, ICPC counsel Agbili Kingsley requested a trial date, while defence counsel Michael Ngwu applied for bail. The prosecution did not oppose the bail request.
The court granted bail in the sum of N10 million, with a condition that the state Accountant-General serve as surety. The surety is required to sign an undertaking to produce the defendant in court and attach two recent passport photographs. The defendant must also sign a similar undertaking with two passport photographs.
The matter has been adjourned to March 24 and 25, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The case adds to a series of prosecutions by the ICPC involving senior public officials over alleged financial improprieties. Recently, the Commission arraigned Yusuf Mustapha, a Deputy Director at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on allegations of forgery.