Court remands siblings for money laundering

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of two brothers, Okwuchukwu and Nnadozie Eze, for allegedly laundering money.

The brothers were arraigned alongside their companies on separate charges.

While Okwuchukwu and his company, Berlus Resources Limited, were arraigned on 11 counts, Nnadozie and his company, DYM Integrated Service Limited, were arraigned on 14 counts.

The EFCC, in a statement on Thursday, noted that Okwuchukwu, between September 26 and October 30, 2020, moved the total sum of N319,709,807 to his account domiciled with the Fidelity Bank with account number 6052516415, proceeds of an unlawful act.

According to the EFCC, Nnadozie, also between November 21, 2014, and December 4, 2014, moved the total sum of £32,700 to his account domiciled with the Unity Bank Plc with account number 3001732932, proceeds of an unlawful act.

The transactions were said to be contrary to Section 15(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Samuel Chime, asked the court for a date to commence the trial and urged the court to remand the defendants in a custodial centre.

The presiding judge, Justice N. E. Maha, ordered the remand of the defendants and adjourned the matter till January 5 and 6, 2021 for the commencement of trial.