Nicolas Mutu, a House of Representatives member representing Bomadi/Patani Federal Constituency of Delta State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been ordered by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to enter his defence on the alleged N320 million money laundering charge against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC had, in the 13-count amended charge, dragged Mutu along with Airworld Technologies Ltd and Oyien Homes Ltd to court over the alleged money laundering.

Mutu allegedly committed the offences between August 2014 and August 2016 when he served as the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In the charge, EFCC accused Mutu of procuring “Airworld Technologies Ltd to conceal of the sum of N320,159, 689.63 to be paid by Starline Consultancy Services Ltd when you reasonably ought to have known that the said sum of N320, 159, 689.63 formed part of proceeds of corruption, gratification and fraudulent acquisition of property.”

Iheanacho added that Mutu used his official position, as the chairman of the House Committee on NDDC to accept the various sums of money paid by the NDDC contractor.

The prosecuting lawyer contended that Mutu’s alleged conduct violated both the provision of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences, ICPC, Act and Code of Conduct for public officers, which constitute predicate offences to the money laundering offence for which he was being prosecuted.

On Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, dismissed Mutu’s no-case submission and directed him and his co-defendants to enter their defence as they have a case to answer in respect of the alleged fraud.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Giwa-Ogunbanjo held that the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case against Mutu and two other defendants to warrant their being called upon to entertheir defence.

The judge therefore adjourned the matter until February 21 and 22 for the defendants to open their defence.