The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an Indian, Chandra Prakash Singh before the Federal High Court in Lagos for money laundering.

The anti-graf agency in a statement on Thursday, said  Singh was arraigned before Justice Nicholas Oweibo on a seven-count charge of attempted theft of over $200,000 (₦92,088,000).

It said Singh allegedly transferred funds worth $90,000 from a domiciled United Bank for Africa (UBA) to Citibank N.A. in New York on Sunday, December 6, 2020, and also a sum of $78,000 on Thursday, December 2, 2021.

“That you, Chandra Prakash Singh, on or about the 16th of December 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, removed from monies from an account number 3002518278 domiciled in UBA Nigeria to account number 0003 domiciled in Citibank N.A., New York, United States of America, the sum of $90,000.00 (ninety thousand dollars).

“Which sum you reasonable ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activity, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(2)(c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011, as amended, and punishable under Section 18(3) of the same Act”,  one of the counts read.

Singh, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence, and in view of his plea, the prosecution counsel, B.B. Bala, asked for the defendant’s remand and a date for trial.

The defendant’s attorney, Efe Solomon Izokor, appealed to the court for an oral bail application.

Bala objected to the submission made by the defence, insisting that “a written bail application be brought before the court” to enable her to respond accordingly.

Justice Oweibo ordered that the defendant be remanded at a correctional facility and adjourned the matter till Tuesday, June 27, for commencement of trial.