October 30, Court sets to hear Alison-Madueke’s application

By

According to The Guardian, Justice Rilwan Aikawa of Federal High Court in Lagos will on Oct. 30 hear an application by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, seeking to be joined as defendant in money laundering suit.
The former minister is seeking to be joined as defendant in a N500 million fraud charge slammed on Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Dele Belgore.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had also joined in the charge, former Minister of National Planning, Abubakar Suleiman.
In essence, Allison-Madueke wants the court to compel the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to bring her back to Nigeria from UK, where she has been since 2015, to put up her defence in the case.
The EFCC had in a five-count amended charge, named former petroleum minister as culprit in the criminal trial of Belgore and Sulaiman over alleged N500 million fraud.
She was, however, described as being “at large “.
The anti-graft agency claimed that the N500 million was part of 115 million dollars which the former minister allegedly doled out to compromise the 2015 general elections.
Earlier efforts by Allison-Madueke’s lawyer, Obinna Onya, to move his application on Tuesday, was turned down by Justice Aikawa on the grounds that he was yet to serve same to all parties.
The judge said he could only hear the application after all parties had been properly served.
The lawyer also earlier contended that contrary to declaration by EFCC that Allison-Madueke was at large, the former minister was in UK and was willing to return to Nigeria to defend the charges.
He insisted that since his client’s name had been mentioned in the charge, it would be unfair to allow the case to proceed without affording her the opportunity of self defence.
On Wednesday’s proceedings, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that he had now been served with the application.
The court earlier took arguments from parties on the propriety or otherwise of admitting a document containing electronic mail communication between Allison-Madueke and a bank managing director.
EFCC’s lawyer, Oyedepo, sought to tender the document (mail) during examination of the second prosecution witness, Usman Zakari.
Opposing the request, however, defense lawyers — Ebun Shofunde (SAN) and Olatunji Ayanlaja (SAN) — contended that the document was not admissible because it did not meet the requirement of the Evidence Act.
They argued that the prosecution had not placed any material facts before the court to confirm the genuineness of the signature on the face of the document.
In urging the court to admit the document, EFCC’s lawyer said the objection to the admissibility of the document by the defence was misconceived.
He argued that the certificate accompanying the document substantially complied with the provisions of Section 84 of the Evidence Act.
Oyedepo further submitted that the document sought to be tendered was certified by the officer in whose custody the mail attached to the certificate was generated.
He argued that an investigative officer such as witness in the box, could tender documents he received in the course of investigation.
He submitted that the document sought to be tendered was relevant to the case and urged the court to admit same.
After entertaining arguments from parties, Justice Aikawa adjourned ruling and continuation of trial till Oct. 30.
In the amended charge, the former petroleum minister was alleged to have conspired with Belgore and Sulaiman on or about March 27, 2015, to directly take possession of N450 million, which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of proceeds of unlawful act.
The trio were also alleged to have taken the said fund in cash, which exceeded the amount authorised by law, without going through financial institutions.
Belgore and Sulaiman were also alleged to have paid N50 million to Sheriff Shagaya without going through any financial institution.
The offences contravened the provisions of sections 15(2)(d), 1(a), 16(d) and 18 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending

RATS RULING A NATION

By
Image
RATS RULING A NATION Hunger engulfed a wealthy kingdom Anger began to walk naked on the streets singing its anthem The poor cry and stone the rich with heavy words While the rich cry, but still cruise their loots. She became sicker and couldn’t sing As unknown sickness caressed the King And since her hospitals are still under-aged to handle his case His ‘eagle’ took him to the ‘heaven on earth’ to be treated by the ‘angels’. Days came and died Weeks came and never survived The trending full moon died as well And another one was born, still he never told his ‘angels’ farewell. Hunger wore heavy war shield and fought innocent stomachs Hate speeches preach gospels on her busy streets Quest for a referendum on everyone’s lips Still his voice was stolen on his sick bed by the wicked ‘Hyenas’ and ‘Jackals’. Animals had an emergency convocation And concurred never to dance the tone played by hunger and starvation Since the wicked ‘Hyenas’ and ‘Jackals’ are eating the ...
Read more

WHY THE INNOCENT LAD?

By
Image
WHY THE INNOCENT LAD? If you wanted a blood like a vampire That gulps down blood like a red wine Morning, afternoon and night Why not go to the abattoir where genuine blood is wasting? If you must shade the blood yourself Like ‘Dinta’ (hunter) that scouts for deer, rabbit and others in the forest Why not target one of the miscreant animals from the highlands That eats up our crops and fights our farmers to appease your blood thirst? Why targeting the innocent lad? Why spilling the blood of Somtochukwu Ibeanusi like unwanted red oil? Why desecrating Eke-Ukwu Market with his blood? Why causing others eternal injuries with your bullets? Do you want to attract the anger of the market gods? His blood, your riffle spilled His destiny, you untimely threw into the belly of death His family, you have forcefully fed with undying tears At ten, what sin has he committed against you? And yet you’re telling us no life was lost Why? (To condemn the shooting of an innocent lad...
Read more

Buhari signs to proscribe IPOB

By
Image
A lot of dusts have been raised over the proscription of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist group by the Nigerian Army since few days ago. Before he departed on Sunday for the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he will be expected to address other world leaders today, President Muhammadu Buhari put pen to paper to accentuate the proscription. This was done to get the heat off the Nigerian Army and to ensure that due process is followed, according to the report gathered by THISDAY.   “In a move to take the heat off the Nigerian Army and ensure that due process is followed, President Muhammadu Buhari has signed a presidential proclamation proscribing the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) over the group’s involvement in terrorist activities. “Making this known yesterday, sources in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation informed THISDAY that the president signed the declaration on Sunday before his dep...
Read more