The arraignment of former Accountant-General of the Federation Jonah Otunla, and eight others over alleged money laundering charges involving diversion of N2bn from the account of the Office of the National Security, could not go ahead on Monday before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
At the resumed hearing yesterday, though the second defendant, Otunba Ade Adeleke, was in court, counsel to Otunla, Ahmed Raji, told the court that the first defendant was on a medical trip to the United States and for that could not attend proceedings.
The matter has suffered adjournments due to the absence of Otunla in court
The court then adjourned till February 27 for arraignment.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the five counts filed before the court, on October 11, 2017, accused Otunla and the other defendants of transferring the sum of N2bn from ONSA account with the Central Bank of Nigeria between June and August 2013.
The anti-corruption agency alleged that the defendants withdrew the money from ONSA account purported for the supply of security equipment.
The anti-corruption agency also alleged that the fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of the then NSA, under Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).
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It was alleged in the charges signed by EFCC’s prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, that the sum of N2bn was transferred from ONSA account and disbursed into the accounts of several other companies, including one to which one Otunba Adelakun is a signatory.
The EFCC also disclosed in the charges that a former Director, Special Duties in ONSA, and a signatory to the accounts of Helpline Organisation, Col. Bello Fadile, who was said to be at large, was also a beneficiary of the part of the proceeds of the alleged crime.
Some of the offences were said to be contrary to section 15(2) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15 (3) and (4) of the some Act.
The companies named as co-defendants are Gold Reef Industries Limited, Lambster Nigeria Limited, G.C Electronic Limited, Sinmilak Nigeria Limited, Wehsac Farms Limited, Shepherded Field Global Resources Limited and Stellavera Development Company Limited.
The charges read in part, “That you Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla, being the former Accountant General of the Federation and a Director and signatory to Ecobank account of Wehsac Farms Ltd, Otunba Ade Adelakun being the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and a signatory to the accounts of Gold Reef Industries Limited – Fidelity Bank, Lambster Nigeria Limited – Zenith Bank, G.C. Electronics Limited – GTB and Sinmilak Nigeria Limited – Fidelity Bank, Col. Bello Fadile (now at large, being the former Director, Special Duties in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and also a Director and signatory to the accounts of Helpline Organisation – Diamond Bank and Justice and Peace Consultants – GTB, sometime between June and August 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court conspired to commit an illegal act, to wit: money laundering of the sum of N2,000,000,000:00 (two billion naira) transferred from the account of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria to the accounts of Gold Reef Industries Limited with Fidelity Bank account No: 4010112969, Lambster Nigeria Limited with Zenith Bank Plc account No: 1011813502, G.C. Electronic Limited with GTB Plc account No: 0024330333 and Sinmilak Nigeria Limited with Fidelity Bank Plc account No: 4010160616 purporting to be for supply at security equipment and you 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) and (4) of the some Act.
“That you, Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla being the former Accountant General of the Federation and a Director and signatory to the Ecobank account of WEHSAC FARMS LTD, Otunba Ade Adelakun, being the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and signatory to the accounts of Goldreef Industries Limited – Fidelity Bank, Lambster Nigeria Limited – Zenith Bank, G.C. Electronics Limited GTB and Sinmilak Nigeria Limited – Fidelity Bank, Col. Bello Fadile (now at large) being the former Director, Special Duties in the Office of the National Security Adviser and also a Director and signatory to the accounts of Helpline Organisation – Diamond Bank Plc and Justice and Peace Consultants – GTB, sometime between June and August, 2013 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this honourable court directly took possession or control of the sum of N2,000,000,000 (two billion naira) transferred from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser with the Central Bank of Nigeria to the accounts of Goldreef Industries Limited with Fidelity Bank Account No: 4010112969, Lambster Nigeria Limited with Zenith Bank pic Account No: 1011813502, G.C. Electronic Limited with GTB Plc account No: 0024330333 and Sinmilak Nigeria Limited with Fidelity Bank Plc account No: 4010160616 purporting to be for supply of security equipment when you reasonably ought to have known that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful activity of Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki the then National Security Adviser ( to wit: criminal breach of trust and corruption)and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act. 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under section 15(3) and (4) of the same Act.”
