The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Olugbenga Obadina

  • Dasukigate: Court rejects businessman’s request to treat ulcer abroad

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja Wednesday rejected the request by Olugbenga Obadina, Managing Director, Almond Properties Limited for permission to travel abroad to treat ulcer.

    Obadina is standing trial an eight-count charge of money laundering to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    He is accused of collecting N2, 417, 000,000.00 paid into his company’s account in tranches, between 2013 and 2015 from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) without contract award.

    The offence is contrary to Section 15(2), (d) of the money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    Wednesday, Obadina’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) applied for a temporary release of his passport to enable him travel for medical treatment abroad.

    Uche said that the medical papers testifying to the need for the defendant to seek treatment were attached to the affidavit that was deposed to by the applicant himself.

    Prosecution lawyer, Larrys P. Aso, opposed the application on the grounds that the medical papers emanated from the clinic of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which was not related to the applicant in anyway.

    Aso maintained that the prosecution still held unto its earlier stand that the defendant was a flight risk, adding that ulcer, the ailment the defendant was seeking treatment for could be handled in Nigeria.

    Ruling, Justice Dimgba said that in applying the discretion of the court, he was not minded to grant the application.

    “I have carefully considered the application of the defendant for the release of his passport to travel abroad for medical treatment. Traditionally, the court has always maintained a liberal approach in releasing passport for medical treatment based on the presumption that the defendant is innocent until proved otherwise.

    “Also, going by what transpired on July 15, 2016 during his arraignment where he refused to present his biodata and the happenings of January 27, where questions were raised concerning his surety. Even though the issue of the surety has been resolved, I am not minded to grant the application in favour of the applicant”, Justice Dimgba held.

  • Arms deal: Court rejects Obadina’s request to travel for checkup

    Arms deal: Court rejects Obadina’s request to travel for checkup

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday rejected an application filed by Olugbenga Obadina, a businessman, standing trial for alleged money laundering to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    Obadina was alleged to have received over N2 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser under retired Col. Sambo Dasuki without a contract award.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel to Obadina, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) made the application for the temporary release of his passport to enable him to travel for medical treatment abroad.

    Uche said that the medical papers testifying to the need for the defendant to seek treatment were attached to the affidavit that was deposed to by the applicant himself.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mr Larry Aso, opposed the application on the grounds that the medical papers emanated from the clinic of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, which was not related to the applicant in any way.

    Aso maintained that the prosecution still held onto its earlier stand that the defendant was a flight risk, adding that ulcer, the ailment the defendant was seeking treatment for could be handled in Nigeria.

    He added that the prosecution was relying on the records of the court of Jan. 27, where the defendant’s surety, Mrs Maryam Sagir applied to withdraw her suretyship.

    In his ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, said that in applying the discretion of the court, he was not minded to grant the application.

    “I have considered carefully the application of the defendant for the release of his passport to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    “Traditionally, the court has always maintained a liberal approach in releasing passport for medical treatment based on the presumption that the defendant is innocent until proved otherwise.

    “Also, going by what transpired on July 15, 2016 during his arraignment where he refused to present his bio data and the happenings of January 27 were questions were raised concerning his surety ship.

    “Even though the issue of the surety has been resolved, I am not minded to grant the application in favour of the applicant.”

    He dismissed the application, adding that the court might take a different view in a subsequent application if compelling evidence was presented.

    Dimgba adjourned the matter to March 22 for the continuation of hearing.

    Earlier, Mr Victor Agunzi, counsel to Sagir who had applied to withdraw her suretyship told the court that the parties had met and sorted out their differences.

    Agunzi said as a result, Sagir would continue as Obadina’s surety.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sagir had applied to withdraw her suretyship on the grounds that Obadina had not kept to the conditions they agreed on.

  • Arms deal: Court rejects Obadina’s request

    Arms deal: Court rejects Obadina’s request

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday rejected an application filed by Olugbenga Obadina, a businessman, standing trial for alleged money laundering to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    Obadina was alleged to have received over N2 billion from the Office of the National Security Adviser under retired Col. Sambo Dasuki without a contract award.

    At the resumed hearing, counsel to Obadina, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) made the application for the temporary release of his passport to enable him to travel for medical treatment abroad.

    Uche said that the medical papers testifying to the need for the defendant to seek treatment were attached to the affidavit that was deposed to by the applicant himself.

    The prosecuting counsel, Mr Larry Aso, opposed the application on the grounds that the medical papers emanated from the clinic of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, which was not related to the applicant in any way.

    Aso maintained that the prosecution still held onto its earlier stand that the defendant was a flight risk, adding that ulcer, the ailment the defendant was seeking treatment for could be handled in Nigeria.

    He added that the prosecution was relying on the records of the court of Jan. 27, where the defendant’s surety, Mrs Maryam Sagir applied to withdraw her suretyship.

    In his ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said that in applying the discretion of the court, he was not minded to grant the application.

    “I have considered carefully the application of the defendant for the release of his passport to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    “Traditionally, the court has always maintained a liberal approach in releasing passport for medical treatment based on the presumption that the defendant is innocent until proved otherwise.

    “Also, going by what transpired on July 15, 2016, during his arraignment where he refused to present his bio data and the happenings of Jan. 27, where questions were raised concerning his suretyship.

    “Even though the issue of the surety has been resolved, I am not minded to grant the application in favour of the applicant.”

    He dismissed the application, adding that the court might take a different view in a subsequent application if compelling evidence was presented.

    Dimgba adjourned the matter to March 22 for the continuation of hearing.

    Earlier, Mr Victor Agunzi, counsel to Sagir who had applied to withdraw her suretyship told the court that the parties had met and sorted out their differences.

    Agunzi said, as a result, Sagir would continue as Obadina’s surety.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sagir had applied to withdraw her suretyship on the grounds that Obadina had not kept to the conditions they agreed on.

  • Dasukigate: Court grants bail to businessman allegedly paid N2.4bn

    Dasukigate: Court grants bail to businessman allegedly paid N2.4bn

     

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to a businessman, Olugbenga Obadina, the Managing Director, Almond Projects Limited who was allegedly paid about N2.4billion by the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), without evidence of services rendered.

    Obadina was arraigned with his company last Friday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge for allegedly collecting N2, 417, 000,000.00 paid into his company’s account in tranches, between 2013 and 2015 from the account of the ONSA under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) without contract award.

    The offence is contrary to Section 15(2), (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.

    Ruling on Monday, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba admitted Obadina at N500million  with two sureties who must each endorse a bond of N250m.

    The judge said the sureties can be a private businessman, professional or civil servant of the rank of a director.

    “The sureties must have landed properties either in Asokoro, Maitama, Apo Legislative quarters, Wuse II area of Abuja, or Victoria Island, Lagos State. The sureties are to provide evidence of income tax payment for three years,” the judge said.

    He directed Obadina to deposit his international passports with the registrar of the court, and must go to the EFCC to comply with Section 15 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which entails submitting himself for biodata collection, fingerprinting, snapshot and necessary profiling.

    Obadina is to be remanded in prison custody pending satisfaction of his bail conditions.

    The judge adjourned to September 30 and October 4, 2016 for trial.

     

  • Court remands businessman in prison over ONSA funds

    Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday ordered that a businessman, Olugbenga Obadina, owner of Almond Projects Limited be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja.

    The judge ordered that Obadina be kept in prison pending when his bail application will be determined.

    He adjourned hearing on the bail application to July 18.

    The judge’s decision was informed by the court’s inability to hear Obadina’s bail application shortly after he was arraigned on Friday for money laundering charges.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Obadina and his company, Almond Projects Limited on an eight-count charge of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering to the tune of N2.4billion.

    Obadina allegedly collected the sum of N2, 417, 000,000.00, paid into his company’s account in tranches, between 2013 and 2015 from the Office of the National Security Adviser under Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) without contract award.