The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja Zonal Directorate has arraigned a company compliance officer, Orbby Vanessa Agwuncha, before Justice O.A. Egwuata of the Federal High Court, Abuja, for failure to appoint a compliance desk officer and develop programmes to combat money laundering and other illegal financial acts
She was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on money laundering.
One of the charges read: ”That you, ORBBY VANESSA AGWUNCHA (trading under the name, and style of Bill Interserve Global), a Designated Non Financial Business and Profession, DNFBPs, sometimes between 26th September, 2023 to 30th October 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of Honorable Court failed to develop programmes to combat money laundering and other illegal acts, to wit: failure to designate at management level, a compliance officer within any strata of the company contrary to Section 10 (1) (a) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 19 (2) (b) of the same Act”
Count two of the charges read: ”That you ORBBY VANESSA AGWUNCHA (trading under the name of style of Bill Interserve Global) a designated Non-Financial Business and Profession sometimes between 26th September, 2023 and 30th October, 2023 at Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable court failed to develop programmes to combat money laundering and other illegal acts, to wit: failure to establish an Internal Audit unit to ensure compliance and effectiveness of measures taken to enforce the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition ) Act, 2002 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act”
She pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to her.
In view of her pleas, prosecution counsel, J.N Dogonyaro, prayed the court to fix a date for trial to enable the prosecution to prove its case against the defendant.
However, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to grant the defendant bail.
After listening to both sides, Justice Egwuata granted the defendant bail in the sum of ₦50 million, with two sureties in like sum. The sureties must not be below Grade 16 and must possess verifiable landed property in Abuja with a Certificate of Occupancy and all the sureties must be persons of reputable character.
Egwuata also ordered that the sureties must deposit their traveling documents with the court and must not travel outside the country except with the permission of the court.
Justice Egwuata ordered that she should be remanded in Kuje Correctional facility, pending the completion of her bail conditions and adjourned the matter till February 16, 2026, for commencement of trial. EFCC
