The trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki’s Deputy Chief of Staff Gbenga Makanjuola and two others was stalled at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday due to the judge’s transfer.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them before Justice Babs Kuewumi on 11-count charge of money laundering.
They were accused of conspiring to disguise the unlawful origin of N3.5billion paid into the account of Melrose General Services Limited.
The company was also arraigned, along with its operations manager Obiora Amobi and a cashier in the Senate President’s Office Kolawole Shittu.
Trial as billed to resume on Thursday before Justice Babs Kuewumi, but the judge said he had been transferred to Sokoto.
He urged parties to take agree on when to appear before a new judge who will take over from him.
“I have been transferred to Sokoto and I would not like to start what I can’t conclude. We have to adjourn the matter,” Justice Kuewumi said.
The prosecution and the defence team agreed to return on March 13 for commencement of trial.
EFCC, which arraigned the defendants last October 7, said Melrose General Services and Robert Mbonu, said to be at large, between December 14, 2016 and last January “took control” of the money transferred from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) account to Melrose’s Access Bank account numbered 0005892453.
The commission said they reasonably ought to have known that the money represented proceeds of their unlawful and fraudulent activity.
The alleged offence contravenes Section 15 (2) (d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3).
In count 5 of the charge, Makanjuola was accused of making a cash payment of N50million to Mbonu on December 20, 2016 without going through a financial institution.
The alleged offence is punishable under Section 1 (a) of the Money Laundering Act and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b).
They pleaded not guilty.
EFCC accused the defendants of allegedly converting N3.5billion of N19billion London-Paris Club refund to states.
EFCC claimed that Melrose General Services, whose alter ego is Mbonu, was never engaged by the NGF for any consultancy services in relation to the Paris and London Club loan refund.
The commission claimed that the company allegedly recopied and misinterpreted work done by another consortium to the NGF for payment.
EFCC said Melrose was paid N3.5billion by the NGF on December 14, 2016, and that it moved out about N2.2billion of the N3.5billion, the balance of which the commission had prayed the court to order its forfeiture.
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