The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed a 24-count charge of money laundering against a former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr. Stephen Oronsaye, and four others.
According to the charge sheet, those charged alongside Oronsaye as contained in the suit no. FHC/CR/297/15 are Osarenkhoe Afe, Frederick Hamilton and Global Services Limited.
They are to be arraigned before Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Court officials confirmed to one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity on Friday.
Most of the offences allegedly committed by the suspects between March and May 2010 were also said to have involved a former Deputy Director, Finance, in the office of the Head of Service, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina.
The EFCC is claiming that the offences contravened Section 14 (1)(b) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2004.
The commission is accusing the former Head of Service and the others of disguising the original nature of proceeds from acts of illegality.
It was further gathered that the commission made efforts to get Maina to face trial for the alleged N1.9bn fraud without success.
Investigations revealed that the commission was intensifying effort to get Maina to face trial alongside those being tried in relation with the biometric contract scam.
Meanwhile, a source at the commission has said that a former Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Adamu Aliero, did not appear at the EFCC office because he was not in the country.
Aliero was expected to visit the EFCC office on Monday.
He was said to have gone for lesser hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The former governor was said to have sent his lawyer to the commission to inform the officers in charge of the case that he had gone to Saudi Arabia on a pilgrimage.
It was further gathered that the former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, and his two sons might not spend the next two months in the Kano prison.
Investigations revealed that the judge, who remanded Lamido and his sons in prison, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, was asked to move from her station in Kaduna to Kano by the Chief Judge of the High Court to hear the case. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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“The lawyer with the briefcase can steal more money than the man with the gun.”
ReplyDelete― Mario Puzo, The Godfather
EFCC, why charging for money laundering instead of for stealing? Penalty for money laundering is usually not commensurate with the amount stolen. EFCC, wake up.
ReplyDelete