Money Laundering: EFCC Arraigns Ex-Gov’s Aide, Wife

It is not the best of times for a former aide of immediate past Bayelsa State Governor, Mr Embelakpo Apere and his wife, Beauty, now facing the huge battle to come clean of alleged money laundering charges.

Dragging the duo before the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said they have questions to answer over accusations of illegal financial acts perpetrated in 2015.

Embelakpo was an aide on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to former Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.

Following the Defence Counsel, Mr Andrew Arthur’s opposition to the arraignment of his client, Embelakpo, the Court could not take latter’s plea.

But the wife, Beauty, who was arraigned alongside her husband, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge slammed on her by the anti-corruption agency.

In his submission, the defence counsel, Arthur argued that having been discharged by the Court earlier, Embelakpo can not be tried a second time for the same offence.

However, in his counter argument, the Prosecuting Counsel, Mr. M. T. Iko, insisted that the accused person was not discharged on merit.

The trial Judge, Justice I. H. Ndahen, adjourned the case till October 19, 2021 for ruling on the arguments put forward by the two counsels.

According to the charges, Beauty Apere received various amounts in Naira, dollars and pounds sterling between May 2015 and April 27, 2016.

The EFCC alleged that the funds were proceeds of unlawful acts, punishable under the Money Laundering Prohibition Act of the Federation.

Furthermore, the Commission accused her of forging medical and birth certificates that purportedly came from the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa.

Meanwhile, the court granted her bail to the tune of N10 million and two sureties who must have landed property in Yenagoa.

The Court however ordered that defendant would be in the custody of Yenagoa Correctional Service pending when she would meet her bail conditions.

In praying the Court for adjournment to October 19, 2021, the anti-graft agency had pleaded that the period would enable it produce the required witnesses to establish its case against the defendants.