The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Waheed Akanbi

  • Judgment reserved in Ladoja’s N4.7b fraud trial

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday reserved judgment in the 12-year-old trial of former Oyo State Governor Chief Rashidi Ladoja for alleged N4.7billion fraud.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Ladoja last November 5 following an amendment to the charge.

    The commission first charged him with converting the money from the state treasury to his personal use in 2007.

    The case went up to the Supreme Court due to interlocutory appeals filed by Ladoja.

    Ladoja was re-arraigned along with his former Commissioner for Finance Waheed Akanbi on 11 counts of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    In the amended charge, EFCC added that Ladoja allegedly “compelled” a broker to sell the state’s shares.

    EFCC alleged that the former governor allegedly did not remit N1.9billion realised from the sale of the shares.

    Yesterday, the prosecution and the defence adopted their final written addresses and made closing arguments.

    Ladoja’s lawyer, Mr Bolaji Onilenla, contended that the charge was defective and should therefore be dismissed.

    “Where the essential elements of a charge are missing, such a charge is a nullity because in the first place, there is no charge and not even an amendment can cure it.

    “So, we urge Your Lordship to, on the basis of these objections, quash the charges. The court is urged to discharge and acquit the first defendant,” Onilenla said.

    He added that the EFCC failed to prove its allegation that Ladoja sent £600,000 from the state coffers to his daughter, Bimpe Ladoja, who was in London at the time.

    “Vital witnesses were not called; all the issues raised as to the competence of the charges, none has been addressed. I sympathise with the prosecution.

    “On the whole, the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. On the other hand, the 1st defendant has discharged the burden placed upon him by this court. The prosecution has proved nothing,” Onilenla said.

    Akanbi’s lawyer, Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), argued that the case was full of inconsistencies, adding that the testimonies of the third, fourth and sixth prosecution witnesses were contradictory.

    Read Also: Ladoja dumps Oyo ADC for Zenith Labour Party

    “If you do not have evidence against a party, why drag him to court? I am urging Your Lordship to courageously do justice between the parties and say if you don’t have evidence, don’t charge people to court,” Olumide-Fusika said.

    According to him, Ladoja’s ex-aide, Atanda, whom the EFCC converted to a witness, was supposed to be the one on trial, rather than Ladoja and Akanbi.

    “I urge Your Lordship to discharge and acquit my client because there is no shred of evidence against him. He is guilty of nothing,” Olumide-Fusika said.

    But the prosecutor, Olabisi Oluwafemi, argued that the prosecution proved the essential elements of the offences charged.

    “We pray the court to convict the defendants guilty as charged,” Olabisi said.

    EFCC accused the defendants of converting N1, 932,940,032.48 belonging to Oyo to their personal use through the Guaranty Trust Bank account of a company, Heritage Apartments Limited, despite knowing that it was proceed of crime.

    The prosecution said Ladoja removed £600,000 from the state coffers in 2007 and sent it to Bimpe Ladoja in London.

    Ladoja also allegedly bought an armoured Land Cruiser jeep with N42million for himself using public funds.

    EFCC said he converted N728,600,000 and another N77,850,000 at different times in 2007, and allegedly transferred N77, 850,000 to Bistrum Investments, which he nominated to help him purchase a property named Quarter 361 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    The alleged offence, EFCC said, contravenes sections 17(a) and18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, punishable under sections 14(1), 16(a) (b) and 18(2).

    Ladoja and Akanbi pleaded not guilty.

    Ladoja was governor from May 29, 2003 to January 12, 2006 when he was impeached. On November 1, 2006, the Appeal Court Ibadan, declared the impeachment null and illegal.

    The Supreme Court upheld the decision on November 11, 2009, and Ladajo resumed office on December 12, 2006. He, however, lost a re-election bid.

    Justice Mohammed Idris thanked parties for ensuring that the matter “has been finally concluded.”

    “The burial is the judgment. It will be buried finally,” the judge said.

    The judgment day would soon be communicated to the parties, Justice Idris added.

  • Trial of Ladoja ends; court reserves judgment

    A Federal High Court Lagos on Monday, reserved judgment in the criminal case against a former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, and one of his aides, Waheed Akanbi, charged with N4.7 billion fraud.

    Justice Mohammed Idris reserved his judgment after counsel representing parties had adopted their final addresses before the court.

    Ladoja was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with converting N4.7billion from the State’s treasury to his personal use.

    He was re-arraigned along with Akanbi, his former Commissioner for Finance on 11 counts charge of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    They had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and were granted bails.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that evidences in the trial closed on Nov. 17, after Ladoja had given his evidence before the court.

    The court had then adjourned for adoption of final addresses.

    Adopting his address on Monday, the prosecutor, Mr Oluwafemi Olabisi urged the court to hold that the prosecution had been able to establish its case against the accused based on evidences adduced.

    He argued that the crux of the prosecution’s case centred on money received as proceeds of crime.

    According to him, offences of this nature do not give room for acknowledgment of monies taken from government coffers.

    He added that the court was enjoined to look at circumstantial evidences in arriving at its decision.

    Olabisi urged the court to discountenance evidences adduced by defence witnesses, and hold that the prosecution had been able to establish its case against the accused.

    On his part, defense counsel, Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika urged the court to discharge and acquit the accused on the grounds that the prosecution had a weak case incapable of securing any conviction.

    “If there is no foundation, the super structure cannot stand,” he said.

    Read Also: Ladoja’s supporters: we will remain in ADC

    Olumide-Fusika argued that no prosecution witness was able to link the accused with the alleged offences, adding that the prosecution was only concerned with securing conviction at all cost.

    Besides, defense argued that the statement used by the prosecutor in his written address that “the second defendant in the very least, did conspire to commit the offence” was incapable of establishing his guilt.

    He urged the court to be sensitive to evidences adduced as PW2 who testified as having engaged in the sale of the Oyo State shares was never charged.

    In all, he urged the court to discharge and acquit the accused as there was no shred of evidences against them, adding that the evidences by prosecution witnesses, even supports the innocence of the accused.

    After listening to the submissions of counsel, Justice Idris commended them for seeing the trial to conclusion.

    He informed parties that his judgment would be reserved, and that hearing notices would be sent to counsel in a short while.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that after the close of prosecution’s case, the accused had opted to file a no case submission before the court, contending that the prosecution failed to establish a case against them.

    But in its ruling, the court had dismissed the no case submission, and held that based on a preponderance of evidences as put forward by prosecution, there was no doubt that the accused had some explanations to make.

    NAN reports that in the charge, the accused were alleged to have conspired to siphon and launder N4.7 billion from the coffers of Oyo State government.

    The EFCC also accused them of converting N1.9 billion belonging to the state for their personal use through the account of a company known as Heritage Apartments Ltd.

    The anti-graft agency claimed that the accused retained the money sometime in 2007, in spite of their knowledge that it was proceeds from a criminal activity.

    Ladoja was accused of removing 600,000 pounds from the state coffers in 2007 and sent to his daughter, Bimpe in London.

    In addition, the ex-governor was accused of converting N42 million belonging to the state for his personal use and subsequently used same to purchase an armoured Land Cruiser.

    The EFCC added that Ladoja converted N728 million and N77 million at different times in 2007 for his personal use and transferred same to Bistrum Investments for the purchase of a property in Ibadan.

    The offences contravenes the provisions of Sections 14, 16, 17 (a) and 18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, according to the EFCC.

    NAN

  • Alleged N4.7 billion fraud: Trial ends in Ladoja’s case

    The trial of a former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and one of his aides, Waheed Akanbi, for an alleged N4.7 billion fraud, came to a close Tuesday at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

    Justice Mohammed Idris wrapped up the trial after Ladoja gave his defence from the witness box.

    Read Also:Alleged N4.7b fraud: ‘Ladoja didn’t buy vehicles for lawmakers to avoid impeachment’

    The judge fixed January 18, 2019, for parties to adopt their written addresses.

    Earlier, in his examination-in-chief, Ladoja denied authorising the sale of Oyo State government shares at discounted price.

    He said the decision to sell the shares was taken by the State Executive Council upon his return to office on December 11, 2006, following the nullification of his impeachment by the Supreme Court.

    The former governor added that proceeds generated from the sale of the shares were deployed towards projects execution.

    “On our return to office, we found out that most of the items we had in our budget in 2006 were not touched. We were then looking for money and the second defendant, who was the commissioner for finance, was saddled with the responsibility of looking for the money. He then came up with the idea of selling the shares

    “We later called functionaries at the Ministry of Commerce but they told us that the shares had been tied down to the purchase of rice. We then found a way of freeing the shares and at that point, the second defendant made his submissions to the State Executive Council on the sale of the shares and it was approved.

    “A memo was later raised by the commissioner for finance and I approved it. I had no dealings with the Portfolio Manager, Fountain Securities Ltd or its Managing Director, Chief Kola Daisi,” he said.

    Ladoja explained that he was not privy to the total amount of money that was realized from the sale of shares and that he did not personally benefit from it.

    He said: “It is for the officials to follow-up with the revenue, my job stopped at the point of approving the sale of the shares. The revenue generated from the sale of the shares was expended on certain projects”.

    Recalling the events that led to his impeachment, Ladoja said: “The group that called for my impeachment was led by the late Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu.

    “The politician believed he has a right to security votes because he is securing the state but I thought otherwise. It was a running battle until I later found out that The Presidency was involved. Some members of the State House of Assembly were promised a lot of things by Adedibu. I later got to know that my Deputy was also involved in the plot to remove me”.

    He added that after his impeachment, one of his aides, Chief Adewale Atanda, advised him that he should leave Ibadan for Lagos to avoid any threat to his life.

    He said he only stayed in his house for just two weeks before he relocated to a ‘safe house’ provided for him by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was then the Lagos State Governor.

    “I had to find a place to be meeting my lawyers and supporters. So, Chief Atanda suggested that we should use a space in his hotel, Heritage Court and Inns.

    “Throughout my stay in the hotel, I was responsible for the entertainment of my guests and there was no time the place was closed to public,” he said.

    Upon cross-examination by the prosecution’s lawyer, Olabisi Oluwafemi, the former governor said he declared his assets on assumption of office in 2003.

    He added that the sold shares were purchased during his tenure as governor of Oyo state.

     

  • N4.7bn ‘fraud’: Court dismisses Ladoja’s no case submission 

    A Federal High Court in Lagos Monday dismissed a ‘no case’ submission filed by former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and his aide, Waheed Akanbi, in response to a N4.7 billion fraud charge.

    Justice Mohammed Idris ordered the defendants to open their case on November 20, the next adjourned date.

    The duo had in their no case submissions argued that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) did not establish any prima facie case against them to warrant them being called on to open their defence.

    Read Also:Alleged N7.65bn fraud: Court revokes Kalu’s 11-year bail

    But Justice Idris noted that the preponderance of evidence put forward by the anti-graft agency, required some explanations from the defendants.

    The judge held: “I have refused to consider the issue of whether or not I will believe the evidence. I have also refused to consider the question of credibility of witnesses at this stage.

    “In the light of all the evidences that has been tendered by the prosecution and in my opinion, the defendants might have to explain the contents of some of those exhibits.”

    Afterwards, Ladoja’s counsel, Bolaji Onilenla, sought an adjournment till next Tuesday for his client to open his defence.

    The other defence counsel, A. Olumide-Fusika (SAN) and the EFCC’s counsel, Olabisi Oluwafemi, were in agreement with Onilenla’s request.

    The case was subsequently adjourned till November 20 at 1pm for the defendants to open their case.

    The defendants were first arraigned in November 2008 on a 10-count charge before Justice Ramat Mohammed, formerly of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.

    The case suffered several adjournments until December 14, 2016, when the duo were re-arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris on an eight-count amended charge of money laundering contrary to Section 17(a) and punishable under Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.

    The former governor and his aide were on November 5, 2018, for the second time in two years, arraigned by the EFCC for an alleged N4.7 billion fraud.

    The commission preferred an 11-count charge of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds against them.

    In the latest charge, EFCC accused Ladoja of “compelling” a broker to sell the state’s shares while he also failed to remit N1.9 billion realised from the sale of the shares. The anti-graft agency alleged that the money went to Ladoja, his family and friends.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

  • Absence of prosecution witness stalls Ladoja’s trial

    Absence of prosecution witness stalls Ladoja’s trial

    The absence of a prosecution witness Thursday stalled the trial of former Oyo State Governor Chief Rasheed Ladoja.

    The trial will resume on February 12 and continue on 14 and 15 next year.

    The witness was said to be attending to some urgent family issue.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Ladoja for allegedly converting N4.7billion from the state treasury to his personal use.

    He was charged along with Waheed Akanbi on eight counts of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    Ladoja was governor from May 29, 2003 to January 12, 2006 when he was impeached.

    On November 1, 2006, the Appeal Court Ibadan, declared the impeachment null and illegal.

    The Supreme Court upheld the decision on November 11, 2009, and Ladajo resumed office on December 12, 2006.

    He, however, lost a re-election bid.

  • Court summons Oyo official in Ladoja’s trial

    Court summons Oyo official in Ladoja’s trial

    The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday directed Oyo State Government to send one of its officials to tender a document in the trial of former Governor Rashidi Ladoja.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned Ladoja for allegedly converting N4.7billion from the state treasury to his personal use.

    He was charged alongside one Waheed Akanbi on eight -count charge of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned at the instance of Akanbi’s lawyer, Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), who requested that an Oyo State government official should be summoned by the court to tender some documents as exhibits.

    According to him, a document supplied to the court by the Oyo State Government, was crucial to his client’s defence.

    He urged the court to summon the official to appear in court for the purpose of properly tendering the document as an exhibit.

    Ladoja’s lawyer, Mr. Bolaji Onilenla, did not oppose the application for adjournment.

    Ladoja was Oyo State governor from May 29, 2003 to January 12, 2006 when he was impeached.

    The Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan on November 1, 2006 declared the impeachment illegal.

    The Supreme Court upheld the decision on November 11, 2006, and Ladoja resumed office on December 12, 2006.

    He, however, lost a re-election bid in 2007.

    Justice Idris adjourned the case till Monday when the official is expected to appear in court.

     

     

  • Ladoja’s fraud trial resumes

    Ladoja’s fraud trial resumes

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday adjourned until March 31, the trial of a former Governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, charged with N4.7 billion fraud.

    Ladoja is charged alongside one of his aides, Waheed Akanbi.

    They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge bordering on fraud.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the case, which was earlier slated for continuation of trial, could not proceed on Monday, as judges were said to be attending a conference.

    The court’s registrar consequently, fixed a new trial date as March 31.

    NAN recalls that EFCC had in November 2008 arraigned the accused on 10 counts of conspiring to convert properties and resources derived from an alleged illegal act, with the intention of concealing their illicit origin.

    The EFCC also alleged that Ladoja used N42 million out of the proceeds to purchase an Armoured Land Cruiser Jeep, and remitted about 600,000 pounds to one Bimpe Ladoja in London.

    Ladoja and Akanbi, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

     

  • EFCC’s trial of Ladoja for alleged N4.7b theft aborted

    EFCC’s trial of Ladoja for alleged N4.7b theft aborted

    The trial of former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja was aborted Tuesday after Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos insisted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) must comply with the law.

    Eight years after he was first arraigned, EFCC re-arraigned Ladoja for allegedly converting N4.7billion from the state treasury to his personal use.

    He was charged along with Waheed Akanbi on eight counts of money laundering and unlawful conversion of public funds.

    Prosecution counsel Femi Olabisi called his first witness, an EFCC investigator, Abdullahi Lawal.

    As the operative was about to begin his testimony, Ladoja’s lawyer Bolaji Onilenle and Akanbi’s lawyer Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika objected to Lawal’s testimony on the basis that he was not listed as a prosecution witness.

    Onilenle said: “His name is not on the list of witnesses. We’re being taken by surprise. Section 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 mandates the prosecution to make a list of witnesses available to defendants.”

    Olumide-Fusika also objected for the same reasons, saying they had no idea what the witness was going to say and was not prepared to cross-examine him.

    “EFCC ought to be ready before bringing us to court, not to start putting their house in order after arraignment. They must be ready before arraignment,” he said.

    Olabisi, who apologised for the commission’s lack of adequate preparation, said the case was prepared before the ACJA came into effect.

    He sought for more time to “put his house in order”, including getting his witnesses to prepare their statements.

    He asked that the dates previously fixed for the trial, including today and tomorrow, be vacated so he could have more time to prepare.

    Adebisi said some of his witnesses were in Abuja, Kaduna and Port Harcourt, so he would need enough time to prepare their witness statements.

    Although the defence counsel said Lawal could go on to testify to save time while EFCC updates its list of witnesses later, Justice Mohammed Idris said it would be better for the prosecution to comply with the law.

    He said: “Section 379 is mandatory. We’ll go with speed but in accordance with the law. Let’s do it within the ambit of the law. Let’s not overlook the issue and proceed.

    “The prosecution should ensure that a summary of the issues and list of witnesses are made available to the defence before trial commences.”

    Ladoja was first arraigned before Justice A.R. Mohammed in 2008, but he objected to the charge.

    He subsequently obtained a stay of proceedings after filing an interlocutory appeal, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

    The EFCC accused Ladoja and Akanbi of converting N1,932,940,032.48 belonging to Oyo to their personal use through the Guaranty Trust Bank account of a company, Heritage Apartments Limited despite knowing that it was proceed of crime.

    The prosecution said Ladoja removed £600,000 (about N240, 219,945) from the state coffers in 2007 and sent it to Bimpe Ladoja in London.

    Ladoja also allegedly bought an armoured Land Cruiser jeep with N42million for himself using public funds.

    EFCC said he converted N728, 600,000 and another N77,850,000 at different times in 2007, and allegedly transferred N77, 850,000 to Bistrum Investments, which he nominated to help him purchase a property named Quarter 361 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    The alleged offence contravenes sections 17(a) and18 (1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, punishable under sections 14(1), 16(a) (b) and 18(2).

    Ladoja and Akanbi pleaded not guilty.

    Justice Idris adjourned until March 1 for trial.