A former Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, yesterday ended his defence in the money laundering trial against him at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Mojisola Olatoregun adjourned till June 20 for adoption of final addresses, following which a date for judgment will be fixed.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Jauro on April 12, 2016, with Dr. Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19 counts of converting N304.1 million from NIMASA.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Jauro assumed NIMASA leadership after Dr Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is also on trial, left the position.
Justice Olatoregun adjourned after the defence informed the court that it had closed its case following the recall of the third prosecution witness (PW3), Mr Barnabas Ishaku.
Jauro had proposed a plea bargain with the EFCC in the course of the trial.
His lead counsel, Babajide Koku (SAN), told the court on October 23, 2016, about the proposal, and Justice Olatoregun urged the parties to reach an agreement without delay.
But another defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), informed the court that the plea bargain talks had broken down and that Jauro was ready to proceed with the trial.
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