Posted by By ADESINA AIYEKOTI on
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, slammed a fresh 124-count charges, bordering on allegation of money laundering amounting to over N6.9 billion against former Enugu State governor, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani and 11 other persons.
• EFCC accuses ex-Enugu gov, 11 others of laundering N6.9bn
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, slammed a fresh 124-count charges, bordering on allegation of money laundering amounting to over N6.9 billion against former Enugu State governor, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani and 11 other persons.
The charges were filed barely few minutes after a court presided by Justice Peter Olayiwola, struck out the earlier case containing 105 charges instituted against Nnamani, his Chief of Staff while in office, Sylvia Onwubuemeli and six others, following the withdrawal of the matter by the anti-graft commission.
Others to be prosecuted in the fresh charges, in suit No. FHC/L/230C/07, for alleged laundering of funds belonging to Enugu State government are former Commissioner for Finance under Nnamani's administration, Peter Mbah, ex-Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Sam Ejiofor, Victor Udeh, a consultant, Sunday Onyekazuru Anyaogu and Sylvia Onwubuemeli.
Others named in the charges as accused persons are: Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Hillgate Nigeria Limited, Cosmos FM, Capital City Automobile (Nigeria) Limited, Renaissance University and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.
The charges, filed by S. K. Atteh, on behalf of the EFCC chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, indicated that the accused persons conspired to perpetrate the fraud between August 2003 and 2007, contrary to Section 17 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2004.
Among the allegations preferred against Nnamani and his co-accused persons, were that they transferred 14.9 million United States dollars to Rainbow Associates LLC account in the United States of America.
Nnamani and his former Chief of Staff, Sylvia, were also accused of transferring the sum of N100 million without any budgetary approval from the Enugu State government, which was allegedly given to Mea Mater High School, an organization owned by Rainbownet Nigeria Limited.
Besides, Nnamani was also separately charged for making a false declaration by omitting to declare his interest in the property known as Plot No. H161, Golf Course Layout, Phase 1, GRA, Enugu in the declaration of assets form of the EFCC.
Justice Tijani Abubakar is expected to commence trial in Lagos on January 30, 2008.
Prior to the filing of the new charges, Peter Mbah, Victor Udeh and Sam Ejiofor had been arraigned before a court presided by Justice Mohammed Shuaib on a 29-count charge bothering on money laundering.
During the course of the proceeding, Justice Shuaib was transferred to the Kaduna Division of the court.
Speaking on the development, former Enugu State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Igbonekwu Ogazimorah, said: 'We trust strongly in the rule of law. We acknowledge the equal chances offered on the floor of justice system and hope that it will continue to get better."