The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu Command, on Friday, arraigned Pastor Kelechi Vitalis Anozie and three others who are currently at large, Mr. Azubuike Ifeanyi Bright, Mrs. Amarachi Blessing Iro and Mr. Kelechi Patrick Iro, before Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court in Enugu on a seven count charge of alleged on money laundering.
Anozie, who is on the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Wanted List, was arrested by the Enugu Command of the EFCC at Owerri on March 10, 2022 following actionable intelligence received by the Commission.
The defendant is alleged to have defrauded one F.F who lives in Illinois with the sum of $135,800, and $47,000 from another American based in North Carolina.
One of the counts reads, “that you PASTOR KELECHI VITALIS ANOZIE,MR AZUBUIKE IFEANYI BRIGHT( NOW AT LARGE), MRS AMARACHI BLESSING IRI (NOW AT LARGE) AND MR KELECHI PATRICK IRO (NOW AT LARGE) sometime between 2017 and 2019, at Owerri within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court of Nigeria conspired among yourselves to commit a felony to wit: use and taking possession of fund that forms part of proceeds of an unlawful act and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21 (a) of the Money Laundering,(Prohibition) Act,2022 and Punishable under section 18(3) of the same Act.
When the charge was read to Anozie, he pleaded not guilty to the offence. The development prompted the prosecuting EFCC, Michael Ani, to ask the court for a date for the commencement of trial. But the lawyer to Anoxie, Mr E. Adams prayed the court to grant his client bail.
In his ruling on the matter, Justice Buba granted bail to Anoxie in the sum of N10million and one surety in like sum. The judge added that the surety must be resident within the jurisdiction and own a property, saying that he must also swear to an affidavit of means.
The judge also directed Anoxie to deposit his international passport and passport photographs with the court.
The case was later adjourned till Friday for trial.
