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Tag: Haruna Jauro

  • EFCC invited ex-NIMASA DG’s daughter for interrogation – Witness

    EFCC invited ex-NIMASA DG’s daughter for interrogation – Witness

    The Federal High Court, Lagos, heard on Tuesday that the children of a former acting Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, including his six-year old daughter, were invited for interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    A subpoenaed witness, Mr. Peter Achuneni, who is a lawyer, gave the evidence at the resumed trial-within-trial of Jauro.

    EFCC charged the NIMASA DG alongside Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19- count charge of N304.1 million fraud.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had ordered a trial-within-trial after Jauro claimed his statements were not made voluntarily.

    The witness, led in evidence by Jauro’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, said he represented Jauro during investigation at the EFCC.

    The witness told the court that at the commission, he introduced himself to an operative of the EFCC, Mr. Chukwuma Orji, who later detailed one of his subordinates to take the first accused to a table for interrogation.

    Achuneni said an asset declaration form was also given to the accused to fill, adding that as lawyer, he attempted severally to approach the accused at the table, but he was asked to return back to the gallery where visitors were seated.

    The witness told the court that after observing disappointment on the face of the accused, (his client at that time), he again attempted for the second and third time to approach the table where he was being interrogated.

    He said following his persistent attempt, the EFCC operative (Orji), warned him again to go away or risk been joined alongside the accused.

    Achuneni  said Orji later asked him to endorse the accused statement, adding that he was present when it was taken and all went well.

  • My statement to EFCC not voluntary – Ex- NIMASA chief

    A former Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, on Monday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of inducing him to make a statement.

    Jauro was arraigned on April 12 last year along with Dr. Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19 –count charge of converting N304.1 million from NIMASA.

    They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    During trial before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, Jauro’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, objected to the tendering of the defendant’s statement made after his arrest by the EFCC.

    The judge consequently ordered a trial-within-trial to determine if the statement was obtained voluntarily.

    The first prosecution witness, Mr. Orji Chukwuma, led in evidence by EFCC lawyer, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said Jauro made a request for the transfer of N176 million to seven beneficiaries, including NIMASA executive directors, board members or directors.

    He said Bawa allegedly received N20 million through his bank account.

    Chukwuma said Jauro returned his own share of the money.

    He said on July 10, 2014, N20million from the Committee on Intelligence Gathering was paid into the account of Thlumbau Enterprises, a company linked to Jauro and Bawa.

    Chukwuma said the said sum was not used for the proposed intelligence gathering but was merged with other proceeds of crime and transferred to one Helen Mbonu.

    The witness said there was also a request for the transfer of N15 million to Thumbau Enteprises.

    When prosecution counsel sought to tender Jauro’s statement, Ojo objected on the basis that the statement was not voluntarily obtained by the EFCC.

    He alleged the statement was obtained through inducement, therefore, it could not be tendered and admitted in court.

    He urged the court to order a trial-within-trial.

    Justice Olatoregun-Ishola granted the prayer and adjourned the matter till February 21, March 3, 13 and 14.

  • Ex-NIMASA chief withdraws plea bargain proposal

    A former Acting Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, has withdrawn his proposal to enter a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The commission arraigned him at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N304.1million fraud.

    Jauro’s lead counsel, Babajide Koku (SAN), had told the court on October 23 that his client would explore plea bargain agreement with the prosecution.

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola urged the parties to reach an agreement without delay.

    But on Tuesday, another defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, informed the court that the plea bargain talks had broken down and that Jauro was ready to proceed with the trial.

    It was learnt from a reliable source that Jauro changed his mind about the plea bargain proposal.

    When EFCC’s lawyer, Nkereuwem Anana, made to lead the agency’s operative, Orji Chukwuma, in evidence, Ojo objected.

    He said the prosecution did not serve his client with the witness statement as required by law prior to commencement of trial.

    Anana admitted that the Chukwuma’s statement was not served on the defence, saying it was due to an “oversight.”

    “It may have been due to the oversight of the person who filed the processes. We’ll ask for a short adjournment to put our house in order,” he said.

    Justice Mojisola-Olatoregun held that the charge substantially complied with law since it contained the basic information regarding the allegations, including name of the defendant, date of offence and place, and particulars of laws violated.

  • Ex-NIMASA DG proposes plea bargain with EFCC

    Ex-NIMASA DG proposes plea bargain with EFCC

    A former Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Haruna Jauro, Monday proposed to enter a plea bargain agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The commission arraigned him at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N304.1million fraud.

    Jauro is among four ex-NIMASA chiefs charged with corruption-related offences.

    Others are Patrick Akpobolokemi, Calistus Obi and Temisan Omatseye, who was convicted.

    Obi, ex-NIMASA’s Executive Director, Maritime Labour and Cabotage Service, took over from Akpobolokemi, who is facing five separate fraud charges.

    Obi was relieved of his duties less than a week later, and replaced by Jauro, who was Executive Director, Finance and Administration.

    Jauro was charged with Dr. Dauda Bawa and Thlumbau Enterprises Limited on 19 counts of converting N304.1 million belonging to NIMASA.

    EFCC said they conspired on January 6, 2014, to convert N156, 477,500 belonging to NIMASA, knowing the money was stolen.

    They also allegedly converted N38, 170,000 between June 3 and September 1, 2014, “knowing that the sums were proceeds of stealing, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3).”

    EFCC said on May 30 and August 14, 2014, they converted N8, 500,000.00, property of NIMASA. The prosecution said they did so “knowing that the sums were proceeds of bribery”.

    The defendants had pleaded not guilty to all counts when they were arraigned, with EFCC opening its case.

    Trial was billed to resume Monday before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola, but defence counsel Babajide Koku (SAN) said his client had begun plea bargain talks with the prosecution.

    He told the judge that the defence took the decision Monday.

    “It (plea bargain decision) came up this morning. I discussed directly with my learned friend (prosecution counsel) this morning,” Koku said.

    EFCC’s lawyer Rotimi Oyedepo confirmed the development.

    He said: “I confirm the intention of the defence to enter a plea bargain with the prosecution.”

    Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola urged the parties to reach an agreement without delay.

    “By the time you come back, you would have filed the plea bargain agreement and I would have looked at it and evaluated it,” she said.

    The judge adjourned until November 21.