A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday issued a bench warrant for the arrest and production in court of a former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, over alleged laundering of N4.5 billion. The court issued the order following the absence of the accused, to stand trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had charged Nnamani alongside his former aide, Sunday Anyaogu, over the alleged laundering of the money. Also charged are six firms, namely: Rainbownet Nigeria Ltd, Hillgate Nigeria Ltd, Cosmo FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.
The ex-governor and his co-accused were said to have allegedly lodged the laundered sum in a secret account, with the aim of concealing its source. When the case was called on Monday, Mr Kelvin Uzozie announced appearance for the prosecution, while Mr Abubakar Shamsudeen appeared for the accused.
The former governor was to be re-arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering of N4.5 billion an offense said to have been committed during his tenure as Governor of Enugu State between 1999 and 2007. A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos State had earlier on December 30 adjourned the money laundering trial of the former Enugu State Governor to today, Monday, December 4.
This move to re-arraign the former Governor is coming 10 years after he was first arraigned alongside his aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms. Nnamani had been arraigned before Justice Tijani Abubakar and re-arraigned before Justice Charles Archibong when Tijani Abubakar was elevated to the Court of Appeal. He was later re-arraigned before Justice Mohammed Yinusa when Justice Archibong retired.
He was re-arraigned on a 105-count charge of money laundering and economic crimes to the tune of N4.5 billion.
The case was finally re-assigned to Justice Chuka Obiozor.
