The EFCC has arraigned Ahmadu Fintiri, the former acting governor of Adamawa, before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N2.9 billion.
Fintiri was charged along with Mayim Construction and Properties Limited.
Mr
Wilson Uwujaren, the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, made the
disclosure in a statement he issued to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
The
statement said that Fintiri, a former Speaker, who served briefly as
acting governor, allegedly laundered monies through his Naira and dollar
accounts domiciled in one of the new generation banks.
It added that he made large cash payment for the purchase of a property in Abuja on Oct. 9, 2014.
The
statement said that Fintiri indirectly disguise the origin of the
aggregate sum of N550, 000,000 (five hundred and fifty million naira)
through a loan of twelve months purportedly granted him by the bank.
"Fintiri
pleaded not guilty, while a plea of not guilty was also entered for
Mayim Construction and Properties Limited, pursuant to the provisions of
Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
"In
view of the pleas by the accused, counsel to EFCC, requested for a date
for commencement of trial and that the defendant be remanded in prison
custody.
"However, counsel to the first
and second defendants, informed the court that he had a pending motion
dated June 24, 2016 and filed on June 27, 2016 seeking for release of
the defendant on bail.
"This was opposed
by the prosecution who noted that the motion, which represented just the
first defendant, sought to remove the second defendant from the matter,’’ the statement said.
It
further added that it was a criminal trial and it was fundamental that
all processes before the court carried the appropriate parties.
According
to the statement, the motion filed by the defence was a deliberate
attempt to amend the charges and confuse and frustrate court processes.
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