by Umeh Sandra
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday adjourned untill May 15 and May 16 the continuation in the trial of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Oluwafemi Thomas.
Thomas is standing trial alongside a bureau de change operator Kabiru Sidi, on a four counts charge bordering on 2.2 million dollars money laundering
The are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and were first arraigned in 2016, before Justice Saliu Saidu.
They had each pleaded not guilty to the charge and were granted bail.
The case was however, re-assigned to Justice Ayokunle Faji, after Saidu was transferred from the Lagos division of the court.
Trial has since commenced in the suit and the defence had opened its case and still giving evidence in court
When the case was called on Monday, Mr Ekene Iheanacho, appeared for the prosecution while Mr O. Gbolahan appeared fro the first defendant.
The second defendant, however, informed the court of the absence of his counsel, on the grounds of ill health
On his part, the prosecutor expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, adding that he had come in from Abuja since last week hoping to take this case.
He, however, said that in the circumstance, he would accept an adjournment
While noting that the second defendant was entitled to be represented by a counsel, the court also noted that the defendant had narrated to the court his efforts to secure a counsel.
The court consequently, adjourned the case until May 15 and 16 and urged the defendant to ensure he be present in court with his counsel on the next date
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the charge against the defendants has been amended severally, with the defendants taking fresh pleas on each amendment.
They were re-arraigned on March 6, 2019
The prosecution closed its case in January 2020 , after calling six witnesses and tendering 26 exhibits
The defence on their part filed a no case submission arguing that the prosecution had not made out any prima facie case against them to warrant them to open their defence .
Meanwhile, the no-case submission filed by defence failed, as Justice Faji on March 13, 2020, dismissed their application and ordered the defence to open its case
An appeal against the ruling of the trial court also failed at the appellate court which delivered judgement on Sept. 30, 2021.
The defence was thus asked to open its case, which is now ongoing
In the amended charge numbered FHC/L/457C/2015, The EFCC alleged that the first defendant and his wife who is said to be at large, had on July 3, 2015, conspired to move out of the court’s jurisdiction, the sum of 2.19 million dollars said to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The defendant was said to have procured the assistance of one Bamidele Ibitoye to help move the money, which were proceeds of his alleged unlawful enrichment as a public servant without going through a financial institution.
They were alleged to have concealed the origin of the said sum.
The defendants were also alleged to have made a cash payment of the said sum, to the said Ibitoye, without going through any financial institutions.
The second defendant was alleged to have on July 15, 2015, made a false statement to Mr Afeez Mustapha, an investigating Officer with the EFCC, that he was the owner of the said sum of money.
The offences contravenes the provisions of sections 15 (2), 15(3), and 16(2) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
It also contravenes the provisions of sections 39(2)(b) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act 2004. (NAN)
