Former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall
Adesola Amosu, and 10 others who are being tried for an alleged N22.8 billion
fraud yesterday pleaded with a Federal High Court in Lagos to allow them enter
into a plea bargain arrangement with the federal government.
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 EFCC accused them of
conspiracy, stealing, money laundering, concealing of proceeds of crime and
conversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Airforce to their personal use
around March 5, 2014 in Lagos.
They were also accused of
concealing “proceeds of crime” and thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and
punishable under Section 17(a).
However, the defendants had
pleaded not guilty to the charges, a development which made the trial judge,
Justice Mohammed Idris to grant Amosun, Adigun and Olugbenga bail in the sum of
N500m each with two sureties in like sum.
At the resumed hearing of the
case on Monday, counsel to the EFCC, Nnaemeka Omewa informed Justice Idris that
the defence team are currently in talk on the possibility of settling the
matter out of court.
He stated, “My lord, the defence
team met with the prosecution and have proposed terms of settlement. We are
still on it, but we are also ready to go on with the trial of the accused
persons.”
Responding, Amosu’s lawyer, Chief
Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) while confirming the submissions of the EFCC’s lawyer,
sought for an adjournment to allow parties conclude with discussions.
He said, “It is true that parties
have met. It is also true that terms have not been fully perfected. Therefore,
parties will be willing to come back before the court to report the outcome of
our discussions.”
After listening to the lawyers,
Justice Idris adjourned the matter to March 7 for report of settlement or
continuation of trial.
Amosu, was arraigned on June 29,
2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside two
senior serving Air Force officers, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air
Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga and seven companies before Justice
Mohammed Idris.
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com