Orbby Vanessa Agwuncha
The Abuja Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a company manager, Orbby Vanessa Agwuncha, for allegedly failing to appoint a compliance desk officer as required under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Agwuncha, said to be operating under the business name Bill Interserve Global, appeared on Wednesday before Justice O. A. Egwuata of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
According to the EFCC, Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) are mandated to designate a compliance officer at management level and to develop internal programmes aimed at combating money laundering and other financial crimes.
The Commission alleged that Agwuncha failed to comply with these statutory obligations.
Agwuncha was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on money-laundering-related compliance breaches.
One of the charges read:“That you, ORBBY VANESSA AGWUNCHA (trading under the name and style of Bill Interserve Global), a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession (DNFBP), sometime between 26th September 2023 and 30th October 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to develop programmes to combat money laundering and other illegal acts, to wit: failure to designate at management level a compliance officer within any strata of the company, contrary to Section 10(1)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 19(2)(b) of the same Act.”
The second charge read:“That you, ORBBY VANESSA AGWUNCHA (trading under the name and style of Bill Interserve Global), a Designated Non-Financial Business and Profession, sometime between 26th September 2023 and 30th October 2023, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, failed to develop programmes to combat money laundering and other illegal acts, to wit: failure to establish an Internal Audit Unit to ensure compliance and effectiveness of measures taken to enforce the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.”
Agwuncha pleaded “not guilty” to all charges.
Following her plea, EFCC counsel J. N. Dogonyaro requested the court to fix a date for trial. Defence counsel, however, applied for bail on behalf of the defendant.
After hearing both parties, Justice Egwuata granted bail in the sum of ₦50 million, with two sureties in like sum. The court ruled that each surety must:Be a civil servant not below Grade Level 16 and Possess verifiable landed property in Abuja with a valid Certificate of Occupancy and Be a person of reputable character.
The judge further directed that the sureties must deposit their travel documents with the court and are prohibited from travelling outside Nigeria without prior permission of the court.
Pending the fulfilment of her bail conditions, Agwuncha was ordered to be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Facility.
Justice Egwuata adjourned the case to February 16, 2026, for commencement of trial.
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