EFCC arraigns compliance officer for failing to appoint ‘compliance desk officer’

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraignedOrbby Vanessa Agwuncha, a compliance officer at Bill Interserve Global, forallegedly failing to appoint a compliance desk officer and develop programmesto combat money laundering and other illegal financial acts. The anti-graft agency arraigned Agwuncha before the federalhigh court in Abuja on Wednesday. In a statement on Thursday, EFCC said Agwuncha was arraignedon a two-count charge bordering on money laundering and also accused her of“failure to designate at management level a compliance officer within anystrata of the company”. According to the EFCC, the offence contravenes section 10(1) (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Section 10 (1) of the legislation states: “Every financialinstitution and designated non-financial business and profession shall developprogrammes to combat the laundering of the proceeds of a crime or otherunlawful acts, and these shall include— (a) the designation of complianceofficers at management level at its headquarters and at every branch and localoffice.” However, Agwuncha pleaded not guilty to the charges. After pleading not guilty to the charges, J.N. Dogonyaro,the prosecution counsel, asked the court to fix a date for trial. However, the defence counsel pleaded with the court to grantthe defendant bail. After the arguments, Obiora Egwuata, the presiding judge,granted bail to Agwuncha in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in likesum. The judge ordered that the sureties must not be below grade16 and must possess verifiable landed property in Abuja with a certificate ofoccupancy. Egwuata also ordered that the sureties must deposit theirtravelling documents with the court and must not travel outside the countryexcept with the permission of the court. The judge ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Kujecorrectional facility pending the completion of her bail conditions. The case was adjourned to February 16, 2026, forcommencement of trial.

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