Alleged N21.4bn fraud: EFCC re-arraigns ex-NAF chief, Amosu, others

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Tuesday re-arraigned a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Adesola Amosu (retd), for an alleged fraud of N21.4bn.

Amosu, alongside Air Vice Marshall Jacob Adigun and Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo, was re-arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on 13 counts.

The three were first arraigned in June 2016 alongside eight firms before Justice Mohammed Idris.

Their re-arraignment before Justice C.J. Aneke on Tuesday followed the elevation of Justice Idris to the Court of Appeal.

As a result of Justice Idris’ elevation, Amosu’s trial, which has lasted over two years in court, is starting afresh before Justice Aneke.

As the case starts afresh, the EFCC has amended the charge sheet by dropping the names of the eight firms, which were joined as defendants in the earlier charge sheet.

Justice Aneke directed that the amended charges be read to Amosu, Adigun and Gbadebo.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In the first count, the EFCC alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves “to covert a total sum of N21,467,634,707.43, property of the Nigerian Air Force, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities, to wit: criminal breach of trust.”

The prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, said the defendants committed the offence on March 5, 2014, adding that they violated Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

After they pleaded not guilty, Justice Aneke allowed them to continue with the bail granted them in 2016 by Justice Idris.

He adjourned till Wednesday (today) for continuation of trial.