Money Laundering: You’ve A Case To Answer, Court Tells Ohakim

ABUJA—The former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, on Thursday, failed to persuade the Federal High Court in Abuja to quash the three-count criminal charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.

The court, in a ruling by Justice Ademola Adeniyi, held that the former governor who piloted the affairs of Imo state between May 2007 and May 2011, has a case to answer pertaining to the charges against him.

The charges border on money laundering, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.

Justice Adeniyi held that the anti-graft agency successfully established a prima-facie criminal case against the defendant that would warrant him to
enter his defence before the court.

Consequently, Ohakim’s no-case-submission was dismissed by the court which ordered the former governor to open his defence on October 10.

The charge against Ohakim arose from his alleged purchase of the property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral ZoneA04, Asokoro District, Abuja with cash payment of $2.29m which was said to be dollar equivalent of N270m in November 2008.

The property, according to the agency, was acquired with funds the defendant allegedly laundered from Imo state treasury.

He was also accused of failing to declare the property as part of his assets when asked by the EFCC to do so.

The prosecution said the erstwhile governor violated section 15(1)(d) and section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004. Ohakim was said to have paid for the property in cash.