EFCC Arraigns Company Official for Failing to Appoint AML Compliance Officer

The Federal High Court in Abuja has arraigned a company official over alleged violations of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said Orbby Agwuncha, a compliance officer with Bill Interserve Global, appeared before Justice Obiora Egwuatu on Wednesday on a two-count charge and pleaded not guilty.

According to the commission, Agwuncha failed to designate a management-level compliance officer and did not develop internal programmes required to combat money laundering between 26 September and 30 October 2023. EFCC said the omissions contravened section 10(1)(a) of the Act, which mandates Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions to implement internal controls, procedures, and policies. She was also accused of failing to establish an internal audit unit to ensure effective enforcement of anti-money-laundering measures, an offence said to violate section 16(2)(b) and punishable under section 19(2)(b).

After her plea, EFCC counsel J.N. Dogonyaro sought a date for trial, while defence counsel requested bail. The court granted Agwuncha bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties of at least Grade Level 16 in government service. The sureties must present verifiable properties in Abuja with Certificates of Occupancy and deposit their travel documents with the court. They are barred from traveling outside Nigeria without the court’s permission.

Justice Egwuatu ordered that Agwuncha be remanded at the Kuje correctional facility until her bail conditions are met. The matter was adjourned to 16 February 2026 for trial.