Air Marshal Amosu’s trial for money laundering continues today

The trial of former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.) and two others will resume in Lagos today at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting.

The re-trial, which is now based on an amended 13-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N21 billion, kicked off Tuesday before Justice C. J. Aneke.

Amosu is facing trial alongside Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun, a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting, and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni, a former Director of Finance and Budgeting , for alleged conspiracy and conversion of the funds belonging to the Nigerian Air Force, NAF, to their personal use.

Counsel to the defendants had, at the last adjourned sitting on November 6, 2018, argued that parties that are no longer part of the amended charge should be withdrawn and acquitted before the amended charge could be read to the defendants.

However, Justice Aneke, earlier in his ruling at Tuesday’s sitting, dismissed an application by the defendants seeking to dismiss and acquit the fourth to 11th defendants on the grounds that their names were not included in the amended charge.

The Judge also ordered the defendants to take their pleas.

Based on the ruling of the Court, the prosecution counsel, Nnemeka Omewa, told the court that the EFCC had a 13- count amended charge, dated October 15, 2018 and prayed the court for the charge to be read to the defendants.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Air Marshal Adesola Amosun Nunayon (RTD) Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Owodunni Olugbenga, on or about the 5th day of March, 2014 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court conspired amongst yourselves to convert the total sum of N21,467,634,707.43(Twenty One Billion, Four Hundred and sixty seven Million, Six Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand, seven Hundred and Seven Naira, forty three Kobo), property of the Nigerian Air Force which you sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of your unlawful activities to wit: criminal breach of trust,and hereby Committed an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering ( prohibition) Act, 2011( as amended) and punishable under section 15(3) of the same Act.”

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel pleaded with the court to allow him to present his first witness.

However, in his response, the defence counsel, Rotimi Oguneso, prayed the court to allow his clients to continue to enjoy the existing bail conditions granted them and to adjourn the matter to Wednesday, November 14, 2018 for continuation of trial.

Justice Aneke, after listening to both counsels, granted the defendants bail on the earlier conditions granted them and adjourned the matter till November 14, 2018 for continuation of trial.