Judiciary
THE absence of Mr Ahmed Raji, SAN, the lead counsel for Ali Bello and three other co-defendants in a money laundering suit filed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, at a Federal High Court, Abuja, stalled their trial.
Mr Raji, according to Mariam Ediawe, a lawyer who held his brief, was indisposed.
Ediawe told Justice Obiora Egwuatu shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
Mr Bello, said to be a cousin to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, was on Feb. 8, arraigned alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege and Iyadai Sadat, on an 18-count before Justice Egwuatu.
They were, however, admitted to a N500 million bail each on Feb. 20 in their N3 billion fraud trial.
Upon resumed hearing, Ediawe informed that an application was filed by the defence team on May 26.
“My lord, the court record will show that we filed an application dated May 26, seeking for an adjournment,” she said.
She said the application sought an adjournment on the ground that the lead counsel for the defendants, Raji, was very ill.
“We most humbly seek for an adjournment my lord,” she said.
Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who appeared for the anti-graft agency, did not oppose the application.
The judge consequently adjourned the matter until July 17 and July 18 for trail continuation.
NAN reports that the defendants were charged with procuring, “E- Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 which sum reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation.
The offence, the anti graft agency said, is contrary to sections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.(NAN)
A.
Tags: Abba Adauda EFCC Gov. Yahaya Bello Iyadai Sadat Mariam Ediawe Mr Ahmed Raji Rotimi Oyedepo Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege
