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Tag: Federal High Court

  • Alleged N1.4b fraud: FG files charges against Peace Corps’ boss, Akor

    The Federal Government has filed a 90-count charge against the leader of a group, Peace Corpse of Nigeria (PCN), Dickson Akor and its Incorporated Trustees over sundry offences including alleged money laundering and obtaining under false pretence.

    The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/45/2017 was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja on March by the office of the Attorney general of the federation (AGF). Akor and the group’s Incorporated Trustees are charged with money laundering involving about N1.4billion.

    Akor and some 46 members of his group were recently arrested and paraded by the police in Abuja on allegation that they were operating illegally.

    The charge, it was learnt Wednesday, has been assigned to Justice Gabriel Kolawole, who is currently hearing the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Akor and some members of his group against the police in relation to their arrest.

    In count 1 to 32, Akor and PCN’s Incorporated Trustees are accused of converting money derived directly form extortion, contrary to Section 15(1)(a)(ii) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

    They are, in count 33 to 42, accused of transferring money derived directly from extortion contrary to Section 15(1)(a)(ii) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

    In count 43 to 75, they were accused of “obtaining money by false pretence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act, Cap A6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”

    They were, in count 76 to 85, accused of “laundering of funds obtained through unlawful activity contrary to Section 7(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other fraud related offences Act, Cap A6 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”

    The defendants are, in count 86, accused of “organising and training of members of Peace Corps of Nigeria as quasi-military organisation contrary to Section 6(1)(a) of the Public Order Act, P42 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”

    In count 87, the defendants are accused of violating “provisions relating to wearing of uniforms contrary to Section 7(4)(a) of the Public Order Act, P42 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”

    They are, in count 88, charged with “unauthorised display of flags contrary to Section 7(4)(b) of the Public Order Act, P42 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under the same section of the Act.”

    In count 89, they are charged with “operating as private guard without license contrary to Section 1(1) of the Private Guard Companies Act, Cap P30 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 32(1) of the Act.

    Akor of PCN’s Incorporated Trustees are, in count 90, charged with “unauthorised wearing of uniforms and other identification marks contrary to Section 24(1) of the Private Guard Companies Act, Cap P30 Laws of Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under Section 32(1) of the Act.”

     

  • Court remands six Boko Haram leaders, wife in Kuje prison

    Court remands six Boko Haram leaders, wife in Kuje prison

    …Fixes April for hearing of prosecution’s witness protection motion

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja Tuesday ordered that six Boko Haram leaders and a woman be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja pending the conclusion of their trial.

    The order for their remand was made by Justice John Tsoho shortly after they were arraigned on an 11-count charge.

    The six, who were said to have later formed a splinter group from the Boko Haram known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (a.k.a ANSARU), were arraigned with the second wife of one of them.

    They were charged with conspiracy, hostage taking, giving support to terrorist group, being members of terrorist group, being in illegal possession of firearms and concealment of information about act of terrorism.

    The defendants are Mohammed Usman (aka Khalid Albarnawi), described as the leader of boko Haram splinter group known as Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina Fi Biladis Sudan (a.k.a ANSARU) and Mohammed Bashir Saleh.

    Others are Umar Bello (aka Abu Azzan); Mohammed Salisu (Datti), Yakubu Nuhu (aka Bello Maishayi), Usman Abubakar (Mugiratu) and Halima Haliru, second wife of Mohammed Usman.

    Halima was charge, in count in 11, with concealment of information from security agebcies about her husband’s involvement in the activities of a terrorist group

    Usman, Saleh, Bello, Salisu, Nuhu, Abubakar and others said to be at large of conspiring between 2011 and 2013 in Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and other states in the northern part of Nigeria “to commit act of terrorism”.

    The offence is said to be contrary to section 17 of Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 as amended in 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act”.

    They were also accused of hostage taking contrary to section 15(c) of Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 as amended in 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

    The defendants were accused of being involved in the murder of “internationally protected persons” contrary to section (3) (a) of Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 as amended in 2013 and punishable under the same section of the Act.

    They were said to have in February 2013 at Ikirima Boko Haram Camp of Sambisa Forest, murdered seven “internationally protected persons”, while Usman and one late Abu Mohammed allegedly, on March 8, 2012, murdered four others.

    Usman and the late Mohammed also accused of kidnapping Christopher Mcmamus (Briton) and Franco Lamoliara (Italian), at Birni Kebbi on May 12, 2011, and continuing to detain the two expatriates at Mabera area of Sokoto State up till March 8, 2012.

    The two expatriates were said to be carrying out construction work in Birni Kebbi, Kebbi State, on May 12, 2011, when they were kidnapped by the two alleged terrorists.

    Usman and the late Mohammed were said to have murdered and buried Mcmamus and Lamoliara in a shallow grave on March 8, 2012.

    It was also alleged that the accused persons, on February 18, 2013, kidnapped Carlos Bou Azziz, Brendan Vaughan, Silvano Trevisan, Konstantinos Karras, Ghaida Yaser Sa’ad (F), Julio Ibrahim El-Khouli and Imad El-Andari, at Life Camp Yard of the SETRACO construction company in Jama’are, Bauchi State.

    The defendants were said to have detained the seven expatriates at Ikirima Boko Haram camp in Sambisa Forest for a period of 10 days.

    They allegedly “intentionally murdered” and buried the seven foreigners in a shallow grave.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them by an official of the court.

    Only two of them claimed to understand English, prompting the court to engage the service of an interpreter, who interpreted proceedings to them in Hausa.

    Shortly after the defendants’ pleas were taken, prosecuting lawyer, Shuaibu Labaran told the court that the prosecution intends to bring an application for witness protection as required under the Terrorism Prevention Act.

    He said the prosecution intends to open it case shortly after its witness protection motion is heard and determined.

    Before then, Labaran urged the court to remand the defendants in the custody o the Department of State Service (DSS) where they have been since they were arrested.

    Defence lawyers, M Attah and  K. Abdulkareem (who represented only the 6th defendant – Abubakar) opposed Labaran’s application as it relates to the place of remand.

    They expressed preference for prison, noting that their clients have not had access to members of their families and lawyers since they were arrested by the DSS about five years ago.

    The defence lawyers argued that beside that the law requires that defendants must be remanded in prison after arraignment in court, it will be easier for their clients to see their lawyers and relatives if they were remanded in prison.

    Ruling, Justice John Tsoho rejected Labaran’s argument that the state would prefer that the defendants were kept in DSS’ custody.

    The judge said the state was with sufficient capacity to provide security for any category of defendant irrespective of their detention facility.

    He said since it was the provision of the Constitution that the place of remand after arraignment was prison, the court cannot act otherwise.

    The judge consequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja and adjourned to April 11 for further hearing.

     

  • ‘Part of Diazani’s $115m came from CBN in bullion van’

    ‘Part of Diazani’s $115m came from CBN in bullion van’

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Wednesday heard that the N450million allegedly received by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mohammed Dele Belgore and former minister of National Planning Prof Abubakar Suleiman was brought to the bank from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a bullion van.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the sum was part of $115,010,000 (about N37billion) allegedly shared by former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to different individuals in 36 states.

    The first prosecution witness, Mr. Timothy Olaobaju, a banker, said among those who allegedly benefited from the money were Belgore and Suleiman, who are on trial for alleged money laundering.

    Asked under cross-examination by Belgore’s lawyer, Chief Ebun Shofunde (SAN), what the denomination the money was, the witness said: “I can’t remember vividly but I remember there were N1, 000 and N500 bills.”

    He said the money was offloaded from the bullion van into his bank’s loading bay where it was manually counted.

    The witness said though the bank was ready to deliver the money to Belgore and Sulaiman on March 26, 2015 when it arrived from the CBN, Sulaiman’s failure to release his identification card delayed the process.

    He added that the transaction was captured on the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) camera mounted in the bank.

    Shofunde said: “I suggest to you that none of the defendants collected one kobo out of the N450m.” The witness answered: “That is not true.”

    Olaobaju added: “The money was counted by way of bundle counting, and they were in N1, 000 and N500 denominations. The money was kept overnight and in the vaults.

    “That very day, before the beneficiaries came, we had already stacked the money for them to pick. But there was a delay because the minister refused to show his identity card.

    “The beneficiaries said they could not carry the money that night because it was late. It is not true that none of the beneficiaries collected a dime,” he said.

    When Shofunde suggested to Olaobaju that it took two days to count the money, the witness disagreed.

    He said: “As a professional banker, I can count N1billion in 20 minutes.”

    Shofunde then put it to him that it was different individuals who came to the bank on March 27, 2015 to sign and collect portions of the N450million, but the witness said: “That is not true.”

    The defendants objected to the tendering of a list showing they allegedly received N450million from Mrs. Alison-Madueke.

    EFCC re-arraigned Belgore and Suleiman on an amended money laundering charge in which Mrs Alison-Madueke was included as a defendant, though “at large”.

    Prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo sought to tender the list, but, Sulaiman’s lawyer, Mr. Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN), argued that the document did not fully comply with Section 84 of the Evidence Act. He urged Justice Riwan Aikawa to reject it.

    Belgore’s lawyer, Ebun Shofunde (SAN), said the list emanated from the maker’s mail box.

    “The document sought to be tendered has not met the conditions made out in Section 84 of the Evidence Act. It shows that the list was made from my mail box of nnamdi@yahoo.com.

    “The certificate itself was not made by the witness. That makes it more ‘yahoo, yahoo’ and I urge your lordship to rejection same,” he said.

    Oyedepo said the document substantially satisfied Section 84 of the Evidence Act, and urged the judge to admit it.

    According to him, there was a certificate attached to the document which came from the bank where the money was lodged, signed by its Chief Compliance Officer.

    EFCC accused the defendants of conspiring to directly take possession of the N450million, which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

    The commission said they “directly took possession of the sum” and conspired to make cash payment of N450million, which “exceeded the amount authorised by law without going through financial institution”.

    Belgore and Suleiman pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    Justice Aikawa adjourned till March 23 for ruling on the list’s admissibility.

     

  • Alleged N360m bribe: INEC officials challenge court’s jurisdiction

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday adjourned till April 7, hearing of an application filed by 23 INEC officials challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the bribery case filed against them.

    The 23 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were docked for allegedly receiving N360million from Gov. Nyesom Wike of River during the Dec. 10, 2016 re-rerun election in River.

    They were dragged to court on a seven- count charge bordering on money laundering and economic crimes.
    The defendants are: Shittu Lamido, Henry Owokure, Peter Ewatade, Mrs Mary Pennap, Gwatana Jibril, Ivase Stephen, Abdullahi Ogabo, Gayus Hassan, Hussaina Yahaya and James Oqwuche.
    Others are: Karimu Aminu, Adedokun Ayotunde, Najeem Ayotunde, Balogun Funmilayo,Adams Kadiri, Akinwande Adesoji, Lukeman Olabimpe and Tiamiyu Arowolo.
    The rest are: Akinwoye Amodu, Nwoha Yusuf, Patrick Anuke, Iro Abali, Nwosu Olucchi and Arukwe Chinelo.

    When the matter was called up for mention, Mr A.A Halilu, Assistant Chief State Counsel for the prosecution, told the court that all the defendants were present and they were ready for the matter.

    Mr Ahmed Raji, counsel to the 1st to 20th defendants, however, informed the court of his application which he filed, questioning the territorial jurisdiction of the court in the matter.
    Mr Raji said the offence took place in Port Harcourt, while their arraignment took place in Abuja.

    He also said that the defendants were not resident in Abuja and urged the court to hear the application.
    The other defence counsel, Mr Ukpan Ukaiso and Mr E. A. Nwagwa aligned themselves with the argument of Raji.

    The prosecution said they were aware of the issue of jurisdiction raised and ready to respond.
    Justice John Tsoho adjourned the matter till April 7 to hear the application.

  • N6.8bn fraud: How ex-NAMA officials made withdrawals – Bank official

    An official of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Ade Babatunde, on Monday told a Federal High Court, Lagos, how Segun Agbolade, a former General Manager (Finance), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), defrauded the agency.

    Babatunde, while being led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, made the revelations at the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Babs Kuewumi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oyedepo had led the witness as the first prosecution witness (PW 1) in the N6.8 billion fraud case against some former employees of NAMA.

    NAN reports that EFCC had arraigned the accused including NAMA’s former Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdulsalam; former General Manager of Procurement, Olumuyiwa Adegorite and Agbolade on a 21-count charge of N6.8 billion fraud.

    Others are former acting General Manager of ICT, Bolaniran Akinribido; Sesebor Abiodun, Joy Adegorite and two companies- Randville Investment Ltd. and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd.

    When the case was called for continuation of hearing, Babatunde told the court how the funds belonging to NAMA were allegedly converted for personal use by the accused when Abdulsalam was at the helm of affairs.

    He said that on July 13, 2015, a cash withdrawal of N3 million was made by Agbolade, (General Manager of Finance) from the account of Randville Investment Ltd.

    The witness also said that on July 15, 2015, there was another withdrawal of N2.5 million from the account of Randville Investment Ltd. and same was transferred to the account of Agbolade.

    “On Sept. 16, 2015, there was a credit transfer of N22 million into the account of Randville Investment Ltd.

    “On Sept. 28, 2015, N100 million was deposited in a fixed deposit account, and on maturity, same was paid into the account of Randville Investment Ltd.

    “On the same date, N28 million was transferred out of the account, but I cannot confirm the beneficiary, because it was not stated in the statement of account.

    “Also, on Sept. 28, 2015, N100 million was placed in another fixed deposit account.

    “On Oct. 28, 2015, the N100 million earlier placed in a fixed deposit account was paid into the account of Randville Investment Ltd.

    “On Nov. 2, 2015, N50 million was transferred twice from the Randville Investment Ltd. and I cannot also confirm the beneficiary, because it was not stated in the statement.

    “Then, on Nov. 10, 2015, there was a withdrawal of N3 million from the account of Randville Investment Ltd. by Segun Agbolade.” the first prosecution witness told the court.

    After the witness’ testimony, the defence counsel led by Mr Wale Akanni (SAN), sought for an adjournment to enable to them to cross examine the witness.

    The judge, however, granted the request, and the case was adjourned till April 5 for continuation of trial.

    NAN reports that EFCC had on Aug. 19, 2013, brought the accused before the court, accusing them of conspiring to induce NAMA to deliver N2.8 billion to Delosa Ltd., Air Sea Delivery Ltd. and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd.

    The anti-graft agency of alleged that the delivery was under the pretence that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s consignments.

    EFCC further alleged that between Jan. 2 and Dec. 17, 2013, the accused allegedly converted N191 million belonging to NAMA for their private use.

    It also accused the NAMA officials of converting N728 million between 2013 and 2015 and other sums for their personal use.

    The prosecution said that the offences contravened Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3).

     

  • EFCC’s witness: Diezani ‘shared’ $115m to 36 beneficiaries

    EFCC’s witness: Diezani ‘shared’ $115m to 36 beneficiaries

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Monday heard that former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, allegedly shared $115,010,000 (about N37billion) to different individuals in 36 states.

    Among those who allegedly received the money were a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mohammed Dele Belgore and a former minister of National Planning Prof Abubakar Suleiman, the court heard.

    They allegedly received N450million in cash.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Belgore and Suleiman yesterday on an amended charge in which Mrs Alison-Madueke was included as a defendant.

    She was absent. EFCC said she was “at large”.

    The first prosecution witness, Mr. Timothy Olaobaju, a banker, said Mrs Alison-Madueke lodged the sum in a bank and gave instructions that it should be converted to naira and shared.

    Sulaiman had claimed in a statement after he was first arraigned on February 8 that the N450million was part of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign fund which came from oil marketers.

    He claimed the cash was part of voluntary donations made to the administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan by some undisclosed marketers.

    He also said neither him nor Belgore personally benefited from the money.

    Sulaiman made the clarifications against the backdrop of his arraignment, adding that EFCC had no business investigating private donations.

    But testifying before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, Olaobaju said the money came from Alison-Madueke.

    He was gave evidence after Belgore and Sulaiman pleaded not guilty to the amended five-count charge.

    Led in evidence by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness said in April 2014, the Managing Director of his bank gave a directive that certain companies and individuals would pay into an account with the bank.

    “The purpose of the payment was not disclosed. Over the period, thereafter, some amounts were paid into the account. The funds were deposited in dollars. The total sum was $115,010,000.

    “On the 27th of March, 2015, there was an instruction from the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, through our MD, that the fund in the account should be converted to naira and paid to certain individuals.

    “The funds were paid according to Alison-Madueke’s instructions.  The names of the defendants (Belgore and Sulaiman) were on the list sent to our branch. The money was paid in about 36 states of the federation,” the witness said.

    Olaobaju said although the defendants were not the bank’s customers, the instruction was that they should be paid.

    “The instruction was that the sum of N450million should be paid to Mr. Dele Belgore (SAN) and Prof. Abubakar Suleiman.

    “They both received the money and filled the Receipt of Payment as evidence of receipt of the money and acknowledgment of same.”

    Olaobaju said Belgore and Sulaiman signed separate receipts for the N450million on March 27, 2015. The receipts were admitted in evidence as Exhibits 1 and 1A.

    The witness said no cheque was issued in favour of Belgore and Sulaiman, nor was the money paid into any account.

    “To my knowledge, the N450million was not credited into any account,” he said.

    Sulaiman, a professor of Political Science and International Relations, and Belgore, a former governorship aspirant in Kwara State, were accused of conspiring between themselves to commit the offence on March 27, 2015.

    EFCC accused them of conspiring to directly take possession of the N450million, which they reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

    The commission said they committed the alleged offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

    In the second count, EFCC said they “directly took possession of the sum”; in the third count, the defedndants were accused of conspiring to make cash payment of N450million, which “exceeded the amount authorised by law without going through financial institution”.

    The alleged offence, EFCC said, is contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    In the fourth and fifth counts, they were accused of making cash payment of N450million to one Sheriff Shagaya without going through a financial institution.

    The sum, the prosecution said, exceeded the amount authorised by law and is contrary to Section 1(a), Section 16(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable  under Section 16(2)(b) of the same Act.

    Belgore and Suleiman pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

    Their trial continues Tuesday.

     

  • I will prove my innocence, says ex-NNPC GMD

    I will prove my innocence, says ex-NNPC GMD

    Former Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Andrew Yakubu,  has said that he was prepared to prove his innocence over allegation of false declaration of assets, even as he said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was yet to charge him for any offence.

    Yakubu also accused the EFCC of denying him access to medical attention which he said he desperately need.

    The former NNPC boss is currently being detained the EFCC following an alleged recovery of $9,772,800 and £74,000 cash from him.

    He claimed that the money was a gift.

    A Federal High Court has already directed that Yakubu who was reportedly transferred from its Kano facility where he was being held to Abuja should forfeit the money to the government.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, counsel to Yakubu, Ahmed Raji, SAN, said “within this time also, our client has been denied access to adequate medical attention which he desperately needs.”

    Raji also said that even though his client voluntarily presented himself to the anti-graft agency, he has not been charged for any crime either by the EFCC or any agency of government.

    Raji said the statement became necessary in view of media report alleging that his client is currently facing charges for under-declaration of assets and illegal transactions, stated that “Within this time, no formal charges has been brought against our Client by the EFCC or any other government establishment for any offence whatsoever as widely spread in these media reports.

    “In view of the foregoing facts, our Client has sought an enforcement of his fundamental human rights before the Federal High Court, Abuja in an action constituted as FHC/ABJ/CS/126/17 between Engineer Andrew Yakubu vs EFCC.

    “Our Client has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for more than a month since he voluntarily presented himself to them at their invitation and has fully cooperated with investigations.”

    He stressed that his client was determined to prove his innocence and willingness to clear his name in due course.

  • Court okays witness evidence against Kalu over N3.2bn fraud

    Court okays witness evidence against Kalu over N3.2bn fraud

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday ruled that a prosecution witness was competent to give evidence in the ongoing trial of a former Governor of Abia , Orji Uzor Kalu, charged with N3.2 billion fraud.

    In a short ruling on Thursday, Idris held that the witness was competent to give evidence although he was not listed in the proof of evidence.

    “I have no doubt that the witness is competent to give evidence in the trial.”

    Idris, however, pointed out that the witness was not properly brought before the court, and urged the prosecution to comply with the provisions of Section 379(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

    The judge, therefore, directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to supply the Defence with additional proof of evidence.

    The EFCC had on Oct. 31, 2016, preferred a 34-count charge bordering on N3.2 billion fraud against Kalu and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo as well as Kalu’s company — Slok Nigeria Ltd.

    The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bails.

    At the last adjournment on March 8, the prosecution had began examination of its second witness, Mrs Christiana Ohiri, the Umuahia Branch Manager of UBA .

    The witness had began her testimony and the prosecution and sought to tender some statements of account through her when a defence counsel, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) objected to the admissibility of the document.

    He argued that the document could not be tendered in evidence as same was not duly certified, and urged the court to uphold his submission.

    Justice Mohammed Idris consequently adjourned the case to March 9 for ruling.

    The accused were alleged to have committed the offence between August 2001 and October 2005.

    Kalu was also alleged to have utilised his company to retain in the account of a First Inland Bank, (now FCMB), the sum of N200 million.

    The sum is alleged to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government.

    In one of the counts, his company (Slok Nigeria Ltd) and one Emeka Abone, who is said to be at large, were also alleged to have retained in the company’s account the sum of N200 million on behalf of the first accused.

    They accused allegedly used Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and Finland Bank for the fraud.

    On counts one to 10, the accused were alleged to have retained about N2.5 billion in different accounts which belongs to the Abia State Government.

    Cumulatively, in all the counts, the accused were alleged to have diverted over N3.2 billion from the state government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

    The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 15 (6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2005 and Money Laundering Act of 1995 as amended by the amendment Act No.9 of 2002.

    The offences also violated Section 477 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation, 1990.

    Justice Idris has adjourned continuation of trial to April 10.

     

  • Two Chinese nationals in court over importation of fake tyres

    Two Chinese nationals, Tao Shen and Jing Yau, were on Wednesday arraigned before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun of a Federal High Court in Lagos, over charges bordering on alleged importation of fake tyres.

    Shen, 36, and Yau, 22, were charged alongside a Nigerian, Chinedu Madubuike and two companies, Sino Nig. Import and export Ltd, and Nedeca International Ltd, on four counts bordering on importation of substandard products.

    Mr Babatunde Alajogun appeared for the prosecution, while Mr Victor Okpara announced his appearance for the defendants.

    The case, however, did not go on due to the absence of a Chinese interpreter, who was expected to translate the charges to them in Chinese language.

    The trial judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun, consequently, ordered that an interpreter be produced in court at the next adjourned date for the accused to take their plea.

    In the charge sheet, the accused were said to have committed the offence in February (this year) by conspiring to import tyres which did not meet the relevant Nigeria industrial standard.

    They were alleged to have stuffed various sizes of tyres into one, knowing same to be in a dangerous state, or been injurious to human life.

    The accused were said to have imported the tyres, which did not comply with the mandatory Nigeria standard, on account of their stuffing different sizes into one, thereby making the tyres unfit for their purposes.

    The tyres were said to have failed to meet the relevant Nigerian industrial standards and were likely to endanger human lives.

    Also, the accused were alleged to have failed to furnish returns on the conditions of the imported tyres as required by law.

    The counts contravened the Sections 320 and 510 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C38, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    They were also said to have contravened Sections 26 and 32 of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria Act, No 14, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    Justice Olatoregun while adjourning their arraignment to March 20, said that the accused be returned to where they were brought from.

     

  • N4.7b fraud: Ladoja bought 22 cars to avoid impeachment – Witness

    N4.7b fraud: Ladoja bought 22 cars to avoid impeachment – Witness

    A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Adewale Atanda, Thursday told the Federal High Court, Lagos, that former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, bought 22 vehicles for the state’s lawmakers in 2005, to avoid being impeached.

    Atanda, a lawyer, said 14 of the vehicles were distributed among Ladoja’s loyalists in the Oyo House of Assembly, while the remaining eight were shared among his family members.

    Atanda said the 14 lawmakers were those whose loyalty Ladoja was sure of, out of the 22 he required to stop his impeachment.

    The House of Assembly, he noted, had 32 lawmakers and for Ladoja to have stopped his impeachment he needed the votes of 22, which was why he bought 22 cars.

    Atanda testified as the second prosecution witness before Justice Mohamed Idris in the trial of Ladoja and Mr Wahab Akanbi, a former Commissioner of Finance.

    The accused persons were re-arraigned last December on an eight-count charge bordering on the laundering of N4.7b contrary to Section 17(a) and punishable under Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

    Led in evidence by EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Oluwafemi Olabisi, Atanda, who claimed to have met Ladoja in the year 2000 when he (Atanda) was vying for a senatorial seat on the platform of the same political party that Ladoja was then running for Oyo State Governor, stated how Ladoja’s administration encountered political difficulty after he become a governor.

    Atanda said: “Well, I don’t know exactly how it started but it appeared as if there was a rift between members of the Oyo State House of Assembly on one hand, some political actors in the state, like the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and Senator Ladoja, and some other external influences from Abuja at the material time. Very many attempts were made to remove Senator Ladoja from office; various petitions were written and at the end of the day an impeachment process was set in motion.

    “Oyo State has about 32 members of the House of Assembly and to successfully impeach the governor, it would require two-thirds majority support of the members of the House of Assembly. That will be about 22 members.

    “In order to secure the loyalty of these 22 members of the House certain promises were made by different political actors. One of such was that loyal members would be given vehicles.

    “In the course of all these, I had discussion with Senator Ladoja and explained to him that it was important that that this promises be kept. At the material time, it was rather impossible to buy these vehicles because they were not included in the budget for the year, so, we started looking for alternative ways to accommodate the request.”

    He said he eventually obtained a loan of N80m from Wema Bank with his personal assets to assist Ladoja, who was his political associate.

    “The vehicles were bought and collected from the various dealers by the drivers of the Oyo State Government and delivered to the Government House in Ibadan. In spite of this, I think, by December 2005, the governor was impeached from office.”

    After the impeachment, Atanda said Ladoja and his allies, including the 14 lawmakers loyal to him fled and regrouped in Lagos, where Ladoja continued to take responsibility for the welfare of the lawmakers, who demanded to be paid a monthly income of N1m each after their salaries and allowances had been stopped.

    Ladoja, he added, also assembled a team of lawyers, who increased their fees from N50 million to N370 million, before they agreed to challenge the impeachment up to the Supreme Court.

    Justice Idris adjourned till March 27, 2017 for Atanda to continue his testimony.