A federal high court in Abuja has reserved a ruling in a no-case submission filed by Abiodun Agbele, an associate of Ayodele Fayose, former governor of Ekiti state.
Agbele is standing trial alongside Sylvan Mcnamara Limited,
De Privateer Limited, and Spotless Investment Limited in a 24-count amended
charge bordering on money laundering of N1.219 billion.
The money is part of N4.7 billion allegedly transferred from
an account belonging to the office of the national security adviser (ONSA)
domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused
Agbele of indirectly accepting the N1.219 billion in cash through an official
of Zenith Bank in Akure, Ondo state, from Musiliu Obanikoro, a former minister
of state for defence, on behalf of Fayose in June 2014 without going through a
financial institution.
The EFCC said Agbele committed an offence contrary to section
1(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable
under section 1503 of the same act.
The commission also accused Agbele of aiding De Privateer
Limited to take possession of N200 million, which was part of the N1.219 billion,
on behalf of Fayose, contrary to section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering
Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 18 of the same
act.
The prosecution called 16 witnesses between September 2016
and 2024.
However, instead of opening a defence, the first defendant
(Agbele) filed a no-case submission, insisting that the prosecution had failed
to establish a prima facie case against him.
“The first defendant, having considered the totality of
evidence led by the prosecution and the exhibits tendered, vis-à-vis the 24
counts amended charge, strongly submits that no prima facie, however, the case
has been made out in any way or manner howsoever against him such as to require
him to open a defence and/or enter any defence in this matter,” the document
reads.
“The honourable court is urged to uphold our no-case
submission, discharge, and acquit the first defendant. The heavens will not
fall if this honourable court does what is right and according to the dictates of
the law and its conscience.
“We humbly therefore urge your lordship to dismiss the
charge and discharge the defendant.”
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