BEVERLY HILLS, October 04, (THEWILL) – A former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, charged with laundering N21billion, from the Nigerian Air Force bank account to buy personal properties worth billions of naira, has told the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday is still in plea bargain talks with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
His lawyer, Norrison Quakers, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, told Justice Mohammed Idris of the Court that the plea bargain talks between his client and the EFCC were still ongoing.
EFCC had arraigned Amosu along with a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at the Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo on a 26-count charge of stealing and money laundering.
Companies arraigned with them are Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil And Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited.
They were also accused of concealing proceeds of crime contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).
On July 8, the defence team, made up of Quakers, Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Kemi Balogun (SAN) and A. Etuokwu informed the court of their clients’ intention to enter plea bargain.
The members of the team, who had earlier told the judge that their clients had returned “colossal sums” to the federal government, sought an adjournment to perfect their N500 million each bail condition and to “smoothen” their talks with the EFCC.
However, on Tuesday, Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the EFCC, said he had brought two witnesses and was ready to invite them to the dock which was opposed by the defendants who sought for more time to conclude the plea bargain.
Justice Idris, in a short ruling, agreed that the court’s records showed the matter had been adjourned for mention and re-adjourned tillOctober 20, 21 and 24, 2016 for trial.
Story by David Oputah
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