yesterday, re-arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 124-count charge of alleged money laundering.
Trial judge in the matter was Justice Charles Archibong. Nnamani, who was arraigned alongside some of his former commissioners and companies, is currently standing trial over alleged money laundering and economic crimes to the tune of about N5 billion.
Some of the other accused persons standing trial with Nnamani included former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Sam Ejiofor and a former consultant to the state government, Victor Udeh. Also charged were Sunday Anyaogu and a Permanent Secretary in the Enugu State Civil Service, Sylvia Onwue-bemeli.6 firms, too
Six firms linked to the former Governor were charged. They include: Rainbownet Nig. Ltd, Hillgate Nig Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nig. Ltd., Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.
During yesterday’s proceedings, the new charge was read to all the accused persons and their representatives and they pleaded not guilty.
In the meantime, Sylvia Onwue-bemeli, who is standing trial alongside the former Governor, has asked the court to remove her name from the charge.
In an application before the court, Onwuebemeli is contending that the proof of evidence filed by the EFCC does not support the allegation against her and that there was no link between her and the charges.
Onwuebemeli further contended that the proof of evidence does not disclose any case against her.
Meanwhile, Justice Archibong has adjourned till January 25, 2011 for hearing on Onwuebe-meli’s application, even as he directed that the accused persons should continue to enjoy their subsisting bail.
Some of the counts in the new charge read as thus;
“That you Chimaroke Nnamani, Chinero Nwigwe(now at large), Sunday Anyaogu, Rainbownet Nig. Ltd, Hillgate Nig. Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile Nig. Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital, Renaissance University and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School on or about 15th day of March, 2007 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did transfer the sum of $14,975.00 to Rainbow Associates LLC account in the United States of America(in which Chimaroke Nnamani and Chinero Nwigwe are sole signatories to the account) which sum you knew represented the proceeds of crime with the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said crime and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(1) of money laundering(prohibition)act, 2004”
“That you Chimaroke Nnamani, Chinero Nwigwe(now at large), Sunday Anyaogu, Rainbownet Nig. Ltd, Hillgate Nig. Ltd, Cosmos FM, Capitalcity Automobile Nig. Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital, Renaissance University and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School on or about 15th day of March, 2007 within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did transfer the sum of $62,214.00 to Elizabeth Group LLC account in the United States of America (in which Chimaroke Nnamani and Chinero Nwigwe are sole signatories to the account) which sum you knew represented the proceeds of crime with the aim of concealing the nature of the proceeds of the said crime and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(1) of money laundering(prohibition)act, 2004”
