EFCC Declares Ex-Abia Commissioner Wanted Over Alleged Money Laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Abia State, Christopher Enweremadu, wanted over alleged criminal conspiracy, diversion of public funds and money-laundering.

This was disclosed in a public notice signed by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Wednesday.

The EFCC gave Enweremadu’s last known address as the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Umuahia, Abia State.

The anti-graft agency urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact any of its zonal offices.

“The public is hereby notified that Christopher Enweremadu, whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an alleged case of Criminal Conspiracy, Diversion of Public Funds stealing and Money Laundering.

“Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission in its lbadan, Uyo, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Benin, Makurdi, Kaduna, Ilorin, Enugu, Kano, Lagos, Gombe, Port Harcourt or Abuja offices,” EFCC declared.

Enweremadu, who served as commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters under former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had been previously linked to investigations into the handling of funds for the local government councils in the state.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja in December 2024 ordered a probe into funds allocated to 17 local government areas in Abia State between 2019 and 2023, and directed the EFCC to submit its investigation report to the court.

The court also ordered confiscation of international travel documents of three former state officials, including Enweremadu, a former aide to the immediate-past Governor of the state, Erondu Uchenna Erondu, and the Permanent Secretary attached to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in Abia State, Deaconess Joy Nwanju.

The court action last year arose from an ex-parte motion by an activist who demanded accountability on the funds meant for local governments in the state.

According to the activist, the state received billions of naira for the 17 LGAs and that the funds were under the control of the officials during the period in question.

However, the EFCC did not give further public details about the specific transactions linking to the fresh notice.