Nnamani faces N5.621bn fraud charge * 3 others, 7 companies charged with him; Trial begins today
By Innocent Anaba


LAGOS — IMMEDIATE past governor of Enugu State, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, and three other persons, as well as seven business outfits, suspected to be owned by him are facing a 34-count charge of fraud, conspiracy, concealment and money laundering totalling about N5.621 billion. They are due to be formally charged before a Federal High Court in Lagos, today.

The other accused persons cited in the charge with suit No. FHC/L/230c/07 are Sunday Anyaogu; Sylvia Onwubuemeli; Rainbownet Nig Ltd; Hillgate Nig. Ltd; Cosmos FM; Capitalcity Automobile (Nig.) Ltd; Renaissance University Teaching Hospital; Renaissance University and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

Vanguard gathered that the arraignment, originally scheduled for yesterday, was shifted because the former governor was arrested only on Monday, after he reported to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja. He was taken back to hospital, after he complained that he was still not well. It was, however, gathered that he (Nnamani) was transferred to Lagos late yesterday, for him to be available for today’s arraignment.

The 34-count charge filed against Nnamani and the other eight accused persons reads in part:
•That you Chimaroke Nnamani, Chinero Nwigwe (now at large), Sunday Anyaogu, Sylvia Onwubuemeli, Rainbownet Nig Ltd, Hillgate Nig. Ltd., Cosmos FM, Capitalcity Automobile (Nig.) Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital, Renaissance University, Mea Mater Elizabeth High School between August 2003 and May 2007 within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire among yourselves to commit an offence to wit: laundering of funds belonging to Enugu State Government Statutory Allocation and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

•That you Chimaroke Nnamani, Chinero Nwigwe (now at large), Sunday Anyaogu, Sylvia Onwubuemeli, Rainbownet Nig Ltd, Hillgate Nig. Ltd., Cosmos FM, Capitalcity Automobile (Nig.) Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital, Renaissance University, Mea Mater Elizabeth High School sometime in August 2003 within the jurisdiction of this court did collaborate to conceal the genuine origin of the sum of N173,151.45 which sum was illegally taken from the statutory allocation to the Local Governments in Enugu State and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2003.

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