The Federal High Court, sitting at Umuahia, Abia State, has remanded 3
staff of the State Ministry of Finance, at the Afara Prisons, over
alleged salary padding and money laundering.
The four suspects; Mrs. Charity Nneoma Ukaonu, Idika Kalu and Uche
Udeachara, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC following a petition bothering on alleged financial
misconducts against some staff of the Ministry of Finance. A lawyer, Guy
Okite had petitioned the EFCC over the matter.
Sources said the anti graft agency had invited some staff of the
Ministry of Finance to answer to the allegations of salary padding and
money laundering. Those invited include the former Commissioner for
Finance Mr. Obinna Oriaku, who was detained and later released.
After the investigation, the EFCC was said to have cleared Oriaku of
culpability in the alleged crime while Mrs. Charity Nneoma Ukaonu, Idika
Kalu and Uche Udeachara , were arraigned on an 11 count charge.
Mrs. Charity Nneoma Ukaonu was slammed with a 4 count charge of money
laundering and salary padding of about N2m, a 5 count charge was placed
on Uche Udeachara for salary padding and money laundering of about
N4.5m, while Idika Kalu was accused of salary padding and money
laundering of about N600, 000.
Some huge amount was allegedly traced to the account of Udeachara’s two
children who are still minors.
The defense counsel for the accused, D. O Uruakpa sought bail through a
motion for his clients, but the prosecuting counsel, C.O Ugwu argued
that he has just been served the motion for bail and needs time to
reply.
The presiding judge ruled that the accused persons should be remanded at
the Afara Prison till November 11th for hearing on their bail
application.