Alleged N5billion Theft: Nnamani’s Trial For June 17

The N5 billion money laundering charge against former Enugu State Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani before a Federal High Court in Lagos has been adjourned to June 17 for trial.

Justice Mohammed Yanusa adjourned the case after the prosecution and defence teams differed on what the matter was slated for.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had dragged Nnamani and seven others to court on 105 counts of conspiracy and money laundering. Others standing trial with him are Sunday Anyaogu; Rainbownet (Nig) Limited; Hillgate (Nig) Limted; Cosmos FM; Capital City Automobile (Nig) Limited; Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School. They were re-arraigned before Justice Yunusa on March 7, 2013, following the transfer of the previous judge, Justice Charles Archibong.

The accused were alleged to have laundered various sums of money lodged in secret account to the tune of N5 billion, including statutory allocations of Aninri, Enugu South, Agwu, Igbo Etiti and Isi Uzor local government areas of Enugu State. The former governor was alleged to have stolen N1.4 billion from the Excess Crude Oil Funds allocated to local governments in the state.

According to the charge, Nnamani with the help of one Chinero Nwigwe, who is now at large, fraudulently transferred millions of dollars of Enugu State funds, to his personal accounts in the United States between 1999 and 2007.

The alleged offences are said to have contravened the provisions of the Money laundering (prohibition) Act, 2004. They had pleaded not guilty to the charge, while Justice Yunusa had allowed them to continue on the earlier bail granted by Justice Archibong. At the resumed hearing, counsel to the defendants Abubakar Samsudeen informed the court that they were not prepared for trial as the matter was for mention. He noted that the matter was not heard at the last adjournment because the court was said to be away for a conference.

But prosecuting Kelvin Uzozie who noted that criminal matters are never adjourned for mention at the High Court, stated that the case was for trial. He told the court that he had one witness in court to proceed with trial, but will accede to an adjournment if the defence was not prepared to proceed. He also informed the court that he had a total of six witnesses, and could present three of them in a day. After listening to the parties, Justice Yunusa adjourned the case to June 17, and warned parties to ensure remarkable progress given the long date.

The court on May 16, 2013, granted leave to Nnamani to travel overseas for medical attention and on May 28, an application for extension of medical leave filed by Ricky Tarfa (SAN) for the accused was granted.