Akin Kuponiyi
A limited liability company, Asmina Oil and gas company and six businessmen were yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court, in Lagos south west Nigeria, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged laundering of N148. 302 million
Those arraigned before the court along side the company are : Alimi Haruna, Momouda Mohammed, Shittu Muideen, Akpojaro Amos, Joga Yusuf, Duru Patrick.
The accused persons were arraigned before the court on charges bordering on conspiracy, money laundering, unlawfully retaining proceed of illicit act, obtaining huge amount of money without going through financial institution and obtaining money under false pretence.
The offences alleged to have been committed by the accused persons are contrary to and punishable under sections 18, 15(2)(d) and 1(a) , 15(3) and 16(2) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011, as amended by Act No. 1 of 2012.
The accused persons were alleged to have conspired among themselves tocommitt the offences sometimes in May 2017 in Lagos State.
The first accused, Alimi Haruna, and his company, Ashmina Oil and Gas Limited, and Okey Onyejiaka and Dublin Energy Limited, now at large, retained the said sum of N148.302 in their accounts with United Bank for Africa (UBA) and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) knowing that the said money was a proceeds of unlawful activity.
It was further alleged that Haruna, and his company made cash payment of N68.1 million to Dublin Energy Limited without going through financial institution,while the duo of
Akpojaro Amos, Okey Onyejiaka and Dublin Energy Limited (now at large) retained the sum of N15. 140, 000 million in their FCMB’s account and made cash payment of the same amount to Dublin Energy Limited without going through financial institution.
All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge thereafter
the prosecutor urged the court to fix a trial date, and also urged the court to remand them in prison custody pending the time trial will commence.
The counsels to the accused, persons Messers N. O. Musa Hussain, O.K. Salawu and A. I. Unegbu, told the court that they have filed bail applications on behalf of the accused persons.
However, the prosecutor told the court that they are still within time to respond to the bail applications,therefore they should be given opportunity to respond
After listening to the two parties, the presiding Judge Justice Babs Kiewumi, adjourned the matter till November 5, for hearing of the bail applications while ordering that all the accused persons be remanded in prison custody.