The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 arraigned a former Air Force
chief, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun Nunayon before Justice M. B. Idris of Federal
High Court, Ikoyi Lagos on a 26-count charge bordering on money laundering.
Also arraigned with him were Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo
Owodunni Olugbenga.
The companies named in the charge
are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and
Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and
Gas Ltd, Timsegg investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.
The defendants, among other things, were
accused of laundering N21billion from the Nigerian Air Force sometime in March
2014 in Lagos, and were using the companies to conceal the source.
Amosun and Adigun were said to have,
between July 17 and September 16, 2014 removed over N663.4million from the
Nigerian Air Force accounts to purchase properties at 50-52 Tenterden Grove,
London (NW4 1TH) and at 93B Shirehall Park, LondonNW4 2QU, United Kingdom.
Count eight of the charge reads:
"That you, AIR MARSHAL ADESOLA
AMOSU NUNAYON (RTD), AIR VICE MARSHAL JACOB BOLA ADIGUN, AIR COMMODORE GBADEBO
OWODUNNI OLUGBENGA, DELFINA OIL AND GAS LTD, MCALLAN OIL AND GAS LTD, HEBRON
HOUSING AND PROPERTIES COMPANY LTD, TRAPEZITES BDC, FONDS AND PRICEY LTD,DEEGEE
OIL AND GAS LTD, TIMSEGG INVESTMENT LTD AND SOLOMON HEALTH CARE LTD between the
5th day of May,2014 and 4th day of May,2015 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction
of this Honourable Court indirectly converted the sum of N5, 424,159,050.89
(Five Billion, Four Hundred and Twenty Four Million, One Hundred and Fifty Nine
Thousand, Fifty Naira and Eight Nine Kobo), property of the Nigerian Air Force
which sum your reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of an
unlawful act, to wit: 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) of the same Act".
The accused persons pleaded not
guilty when the charges were read to them.
In view of their plea, counsel to
EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, asked the court for a trial date, and to remand the
accused in prison custody.
Oyedepo did not oppose their bail
application, but urged the court to impose conditions that will secure their
attendance in court for trial.
However, Bolaji Ayorinde, Norrison
Quakers (both Senior Advocate of Nigeria) and A. Etuokw representing first,
second and third defendants respectively prayed the court to admit their clients
to bail.
Ayorinde, in his prayer, told the
court that his client had been cooperating with EFCC in their investigation
adding that he had even agreed to return part of the money back to the
government.
"My lords, my client has
remitted monies not in admission of guilt but just to cooperate with the EFCC,
I ask that bail be granted on self recognisance" Ayorinde said.
Quakers, while moving his bail
application told the court that, his client had cooperated fully with EFCC, but
has health challenge which is to the knowledge of the Commission. He asked that bail be granted on liberal terms.
Also, Etuokw while urging the court
to grant the third defendant bail unconditionally or on very liberal terms said,
being a serving military man, his client would not jump bail.
Justice Idris granted the defendants
bail in the sum of N500million each with two sureties each in like sum. The
sureties must have landed properties within the jurisdiction of the court.
Documents of the properties are to be deposited in court and verified by the
registrar. The defendants are to deposit their international passports with the
registrar of court.
The case has been adjourned to July
8, 2016 for commencement of trial.
Meanwhile, the judge ordered the 1st
and 3rd defendants to be remanded in prison custody, while the 2nd defendant is
to be remanded in EFCC custody pending the perfection of bail conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment