Posted by By Tony Amokeodo on
A former Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, was on Thursday, remanded in Ikoyi Prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
A former Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani, was on Thursday, remanded in Ikoyi Prison by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Before the pronouncement of the court, Nnamani, however, stunned the prosecuting Economic and Financial Crimes Commission when he told the court that he preferred prison custody than the facility of the anti-graft commission.
The ex-governor, spoke through his lead counsel, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN). Tarfa informed Justice Peter Olayiwola that the development would be part of history.
Nnamani is being prosecuted by the EFCC on an amended 105-count bordering on money laundering and illegal diversion of N39.6bn and $8.2m belonging to the state to private pockets.
The suspect was alleged to have perpetrated the financial crimes through two accomplices, Mr. Sunday Anyaogu and Mr. Sylvia Onwubumeli, and six firms between August 2003 and May 2007.
The firms are- Rainbownet Nig Ltd, Hill Gate Nig Ltd, Cosmos FM , Capitalcity Automobile Nig (Ltd), Renaissance University Teaching Hospital, Renaissance University and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.
The new charge sheet was dated July 26. It was signed by Mr. S. K. Atteh.
The former governor was initially arraigned on a 34-count charge, which was withdrawn on Thursday.
The offences are contrary to Sections 14 (1) and 17 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004.
Nnamani‘s arraignment was the climax of a vigil by his supporters and journalists at the court since Monday.
When Nnamani was ushered into the courtroom at exactly 11.20am on Thursday by EFCC agents, his sympathisers still addressed him as ‘His Excellency‘.
The accused wore a blue dress with lemon design, sewn in ‘old school style‘ with a pair of sandals to match.
As soon as he moved toward the upper area of the courtroom, his sympathisers kept on shouting ‘Ebeano.'
And the accused simply replied, 'I feel very safe here. It is good to see you.‘
The ex-governor was looking very healthy, clean shaven and cheerful.
He also shared jokes with his lawyers and symphatisers before procceedings commenced around 11.50am.
A lawyer to the EFCC, Mr. Kelvin Uzozie, urged the court to direct that the amended charge be read to the accused.
Tarfa had urged the court to allow his client sit in the witness box while the charge was being read because of his health.
Uzozie said he was not opposed to the request.
Since there was no objection, the court directed that Nnamani be allowed to sit.
It took the court registrar about 90 minutes to complete reading of the charges to Nnamani, Anyaogu and Onwubuemeli.
The ex-governor clutched his Catholic rosary while the 105-count charge was being read.
After the reading, he pleaded not guilty.
Lawyer to the firms that are linked to the ex-governor, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), also urged the court to enter ‘not guilty pleas‘ on behalf of the firms.
Uzozie later told the court that since the necessay pleas had been taken, the parties should be given a hearing date.
He added that he was aware of the accused‘s pending bail application.
The lawyer also said that the commission was ready for accelerated hearing of the matter.
But a controversy later ensued over where the accused should be kept pending the next adjourned date.
Uzozie told the court that the EFCC had the best facility to take care of the accused.
He said, 'We are prepared to give them the best and we urge the court to direct that the accused be remanded in the EFCC custody."
Immmediately he finished his submission, Nnamani whispered to his lawyer.
He said, 'I prefer to stay in prison.Tell the judge that I want to be reamanded in prison. I will like to stay with my people."
Tarfa then told the court that his client would prefer the prison than the EFCC custody.
But Onwubuemeli said that she preferred the EFCC‘s custody than prison.
Responding, Uzozie said, 'We are surprised about this development. This is the first time that an accused will say that he prefers prison to the EFCC‘s custody."
But the judge said, 'It is an aberration for the prosecuting agency to keep an accused in its custody. When normalcy returns in the country, it will be a thing of the past for the prosecutor to request for such an application."
He consequently ordered that Nnamani and Anyaogu be remanded in prison (Ikoyi prison) while Onwubuemeli be remanded in the EFCC custody.
The judge adjourned the matter till July 31 for the hearing of the accused's bail application.