ICPC arraigns Works Ministry Director over alleged ₦2m money laundering

By James Ike

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a Director in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mrs. Adiobome Blessing Lere-Adams, on alleged money laundering and corruption charges.

Mrs. Lere-Adams was brought before Justice M.S. Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday in a six-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/551/2025.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendant allegedly received and retained funds from her subordinate, Mr. Henry David, which she knew or reasonably ought to have known were proceeds of corruption.

The ICPC alleged that the offences were committed between August 2022 and January 2024 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Prosecution counsel, Mrs. Onwuka Ngozi, told the court that the defendant received various sums from Mr. David and allegedly transferred substantial portions of the funds to her husband, Mr. Olujimi Lere-Adams, as well as into a Fidelity Bank account belonging to her son, Jafe Joel Lere-Adams.

One of the counts read in court alleged that Mrs. Lere-Adams, on or about August 18, 2022, directly took possession of and retained the sum of ₦2 million transferred to her First Bank account by her subordinate, “when you reasonably ought to have known that such fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: corruption.”

The charge stated that the alleged act contravened Section 18(2)(d) and is punishable under Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

Other counts border on alleged violations of the Penal Code (Northern Nigeria) Federal Provisions Act and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The defendant, who was represented by Barrister Nduka, pleaded not guilty to all six counts.

Following an application for bail on liberal terms, Justice Liman granted her bail in the sum of ₦5 million with one surety in like sum.

The court directed that the surety must reside within its jurisdiction, provide a verifiable address, submit two passport photographs for verification by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and file a sworn affidavit alongside three years’ tax clearance certificates.

The court also granted the defendant a 72-hour grace period to perfect the bail conditions, after the defence counsel made the request without objection from the prosecution.
Justice Liman warned that the bail would be revoked if the conditions were not met within the stipulated time.

The matter was adjourned to April 20, 2026, for hearing.

In a statement signed by its Spokesperson and Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey, the ICPC reaffirmed its commitment to holding public officers accountable and ensuring that those who abuse positions of trust are brought to justice.