EFCC drags ex-Gov Dickson’s aide, wife to court for money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commision (EFCC) on Friday brought Mr Embelakpo Apere and his wife, Beauty Apere to the Federal High Court Yenagoa for arraignment for money laundering allegedly carried out in 2015.

Embelakpo was a former aide on Sustainable Development Goals to ex-Gov Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa who is currently a Senator representing Bayelsa West in the National Assembly.

Following opposition by Defense Counsel, Andrew Arthur to the arraignment of Embelakpo, he could not take his plea but his wife was arraigned on seven counts and pleaded not guilty.

Arthur had argued that Embelakpo had been discharged by the court and could not be tried twice for the same offences but the prosecuting Counsel Mr M.T Iko countered that the discharge was not based on the merit of the case.

The trial judge Justice I.H Ndahen adjourned till Oct 19 for ruling on the arguments.

According to the charges filed against Beauty Apere, she between April 1 and May 15, 2015 received N73 million, on May 12, 2015 got N50 million, on May 5 2015 got $ 85,900 dollars while between April 2 and April 27, 2016 she received £3,800.

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

The EFCC also charged Beauty Apere for forgery of medical certificate and birth certificate purported to e!anate from Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa.

The court granted her bail to the tune of N10 million and two surtees in like sum who must have landed property in Yenagoa.

The defendant would be in the custody of the Yenagoa Correctional Service pending meeting her bail condition.

The EFCC urged the court to also adjourned to Oct 19 to enable the commission to produce witnesses to establish its case.