A
former Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC,
Andrew Yakubu, is seeking to quash money laundering charges brought against him
by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as he files a “no-case”
submission before Justice A.R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In the no-case submission dated November 6, 2018,
and filed through his counsel, Anone Usman, he is praying the court to strike
out the charges against him, and discharge and acquit him, arguing that “the
evidence led by the prosecution’s seven witnesses did not establish a case”
against him, necessitating him to defend himself.
The EFCC had on October 17, 2018, closed its case
against him, after calling the seventh witness, Suleiman Mohammed, an operative
with the Commission, who testified as to how operatives on February 3, 2017
recovered $9,772,000 and £74,000 stashed in a huge fire proof safe in a
building belonging to him located at Sabon Tasha area of Kaduna State. The
Court also that day admitted in evidence, a 32GB memory card and two mini
discs, which contained the recording of the raid.
Yakubu who is facing a six-count charge bordering
on money laundering and false declaration of assets, was expected to open his
defence on December 5.
Usman while asking the court for a date to argue
its no-case submission said, “We urge the Court to grant us a date for parties
to adopt the processes in respect of the application”.
There was no representation from the prosecution
during proceedings.
Justice Mohammed, thereafter, adjourned the matter
to January 17, 2019 for “adoption of processes and hearing” and directed that
“hearing notice be issued on the prosecution”.
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