You Have A Case to Answer, Court tells Ohakim

Ikedi Ohakim
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled that ex-governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim will answer the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The former governor who failed to persuade the judge to dismiss the charges before Justice Ademola Adeniyi’s ruling is facing a three-count criminal case of money laundering, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.

The prosecution said the past governor violated section 15(1)(d) and section 14(1)(b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 for allegedly purchasing a property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral ZoneA04, Asokoro District, Abuja with cash payment of $2.29m (N270m) in November 2008.

The property, according to the anti-graft 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.

Ohakim’s no case submission was dismissed by the court as the judge held that EFCC successfully established a prima-facie criminal case against the defendant that would warrant him to enter his defence before the court on October 10.