N4.6bn : EFCC arraigns Fayose’s ally and Obanikoro in absentia

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has formally arraigned Abiodun Agbele, an ally of Ekiti state Governor, Ayo Fayose and former minister of Defense, Musiliu Obanikoro  in an 11 count charge of money laundering to the tune of N4.6 billion allegedly transferred from the office of the National Security Adviser.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, after the arraignment had ordered that Agbele be remanded in Kuje prisons custody till August 4, 2016 when ruling on his bail application will be given.

Agbele pleaded not guilty to all the eleven count charge when it was read out to him. He was arraigned alongside Syvan Mcnamara Ltd, De Privateer Ltd, Spotless Investment Ltd

Counsel to Agbele, Mike Ozekhome SAN while arguing on his bail application prayed the court to grant his client bail on self recognition and that the offences in which he is standing trial are bailable offences.

He submitted that “the onus is on the EFCC, to show that if granted bail, the applicant will jump bail” and urged the court to grant the applicant bail on ground that he will be available for trial.

Prosecution counsel, Johnson Ojogbane opposed the bail application. He urged the court to refuse the application on ground that the applicant will jump bail if the application is granted. He told the court that the applicant is a flight risk and had perfected plans to flee from the country before he was arrested by the operatives of the anti graft agency.

He told the court that the applicant and the Former Minister of Defence Musliu Obanikoro who is now at large conspired to move and aid the escape of one Olalekan Ogunseyi who is a principal suspect in the case out of the country and that if release on bail, he will flee from the jurisdiction of the court.

The prosecution  further submitted that prior to his arrest, the applicant was still in contact with the said Olalekan and had concluded plans to get him out of the country with the assistance from Fayose and Obanikoro. He urged the court to refuse the application and instead commence  accelerated hearing.

Some of the charges in which the accused is standing trial read in part: “That you Abiodun Agbele, Musliu Obanikoro (now at large) (while being the Minister of Defence for State),Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, A.O Adewale (now at large), Tunde Oshinowo (now at large) while being the sole signatory to the Zenith Bank account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd, sometime between the 4th day of April, 2014 and 13th November, 2014, conspired among yourselves to commit illegal act to with: laundering the sum of N4.685 billion being the sum transferred from the office of the National Security Adviser with Central Bank of Nigeria by Col. Muhammed Sambo Dasuki (Rtd) which you knew or reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Dasuki, the then NSA, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the money laundering prohibition Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012) and punishable under Section 15(3)of the same Act.”

Count three of the charge said Agbele transferred the sum of N100 million on June 17,2014 into the account of Spotless Investment Ltd domiciled in Zenith Bank with Account number 1010170969, when he knew that the funds is the proceeds of unlawful activity of Dasuki and Obanikoro “to with: theft and corruption, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) money laundering prohibition act 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

Count six of the charge alleged that Abiodun Agbele while being the Managing Director of De Privateer Ltd and De privateer Ltd on or about the 19th day if June, 2014, did retain the sum of N300 million in Zenith Bank Plc with the account 1013835889 belonging to De privateer Limited, when you reasonably ought to have known that the said funds forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activity of Col. Dasuki, former NSA and Obanikoro, former minister of Defence for state to with: Criminal Breach of Trust and fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15(2)(b) Money laundering prohibition Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.