The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 3, 2020,
\narraigned a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on
\nNiger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Nicholas Mutu, Airworld
\nTechnologies LTD, Oyien Homes LTD, and one Blessing Mutu (now at large)
\nbefore Justice F. O. G. Ogunbanjo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on an
\n11-count charge for alleged fraud and abuse of office.<\/p>\n
One of the charges reads: “That you, Hon. Nicholas Mutu Ebomo (m) whilst
\nbeing the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the
\nNiger Delta Development Commission, between August 2014 and August 2016
\nin Abuja, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did procure
\nAirworld Technologies Ltd to conceal of the sum of N320,159,689.63
\n(Three hundred and twenty million, one hundred and fifty-nine thousand,
\nsix hundred and eighty-nine naira, sixty-three kobo) to be paid by
\nStarline Consultancy Services Ltd when you reasonably ought to have
\nknown that the said sum of N320,159,689.63 formed part of proceeds of
\ncorruption, gratification and fraudulent acquisition of property and you
\nthereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(c) (d) of the Money
\nLaundering Prohibition Act 2011 as amended by Act No. 1 of (2012) and
\npunishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.”<\/p>\n
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.<\/p>\n
Prosecuting counsel, Ekele Iheanacho, thereafter requested for a trial
\ndate, and asked the court to remand him in prison.<\/p>\n
Counsel for the defence, P. I. N. Nikwueto, SAN told the court that he
\nwas ready for the trial, and applied for the bail of his client.<\/p>\n
However, Iheanacho, opposed the bail application.<\/p>\n
He said: “My lord we cannot take the risk we took in 2018 when we
\ngranted him bail, he was released in the name of one Anthony John
\nIkpoyi, SAN.<\/p>\n
“From that day till date, the defendant dishonoured the terms and
\nconditions of bail, and never showed up to EFCC office. So many efforts
\nwere made including arresting the sureties, yet he refused to show up.<\/p>\n
“Even the record of the court shows that the matter came up on three
\ndifferent times, but it couldn’t go on because they couldn’t produce the
\nfirst defendant.<\/p>\n
“So, my lord, his coming today to court is not voluntarily, but because
\nof fear that arrest warrant is to be issued against him.”<\/p>\n
But Justice Ogunbanjo in his ruling on the bail application, granted
\ntemporary freedom to Mutu, saying that he took judicial notice of the
\nadministrative bail which the EFCC earlier granted to the lawmaker.
\nHe, thereafter, adjourned the case until February 25, March 4 and 5,
\nApril 22 and 28, and May 5 and 6, 2020 for trial.<\/p>\n
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on February 3, 2020, arraigned a former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Nicholas Mutu, Airworld…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":71611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71597","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n