Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN) escaped going to Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja as Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi, Thursday, ordered them remanded at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Federal Government filed a fresh 42-count charge against Adoke and six others over alleged fraud in the $1.1b Malabu oil deal.
The Federal Government in a document with charge number CR/151/2020, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, accused Adoke and others of receiving gratification to allegedly carry out a fraudulent oil deal.
According to the Federal Government, as Attorney-General, Adoke mediated controversial agreements that ceded OPL 245 to Shell and Eni who in turn paid about $1.1bn to accounts controlled by an ex-convict and former petroleum minister, Dan Etete.
Etete, now at large, was a former Petroleum Minister under the regime of General Sani Abacha.
On Wednesday, the EFCC burgled their arraignment, when EFCC counsel, Bala Sanga, feigned ignorance as why they were in court.
At the resumed hearing, Thursday, the defendants were formally arraigned and the 42-count charge was read to them but they pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
The prosecution counsel, Sanga, prayed the court to send the three defendants present in court to prison, arguing that once defendants are arraigned in court they are remanded in prison custody.
The defendants’ lawyers, who include Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Mamhoud Mogaji (SAN) and Joe Gazama (SAN) for the first, second, third and fifth defendants, pleaded that the defendants should not be sent to Kuje Correctional Centre but to the EFCC remand where they have been.
However, Sanga said that the commission’s remand centre was filled to capacity.
He told the court that he needed five days to respond to the bail applications filed by the defendants.
Olanipekun then prayed for a stand down for five minutes to enable the defence team meet with the prosecution counsel.
At resumption, Olanipekun said they had agreed to come on Monday, January 27, to argue the bail application. This was confirmed by Sanga.
Consequently, Justice Kutigi ordered the defendants to be taken back to EFCC custody pending when the bail applications will be argued.
