A woman identified as Hope Aroti has been arraigned in court by officials of The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Benin Zonal Office on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State.

Aroti was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit money laundering. ArotI is alleged to have used her bank account to receive over a N6million of illicit fund from her co-defendant.

One of the counts reads:

“that you Hope Aroti (F) and Oreva Oghenevokwe Emmanuel, sometimes in June 2019 at Warri within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit felony to wit: conspiracy to commit money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a)of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as Amended) and punishable under Section 15(2)of the same Act”.

The defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge, prompting the prosecution counsel, Francis Jirbo to ask the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendant in custody.

An attempt by the defence counsel, E.D. Shakarho to move an oral application for bail was rejected by the Court, which directed him to file a formal application.

Justice Nwite ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Sapele Custodial Centre and adjourned till June 2, 2021 for trial.