Posted by By Tokunbo Adedoja on
Counsel to the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, Dr. Tunji Abayomi has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of reneging on the terms of the plea bargain entered with his client which led to the six-month jail term bagged by the former police boss for laundering about N17 billion.
Counsel to the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, Dr. Tunji Abayomi has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of reneging on the terms of the plea bargain entered with his client which led to the six-month jail term bagged by the former police boss for laundering about N17 billion.
Speaking on the issue, Abayomi said the ‘gentleman agreement' covered all charges levelled againt the former Police boss, arguing that there was no basis for EFCC to now bring up fresh charges against his client.
According to him, the fresh 92-count charge of official corruption involving about N4.7billion before an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Salisu Garba was unnecessary 'and clearly runs foul of the plea bargain entered into by both parties."
Faulting EFCC's position on the fresh charges leveled against Balogun before an Abuja High Court, Abayomi said it was a breach of agreement for the anti-corruption agency to bring up fresh charges after Balogun had agreed to plead guilty to some of the charges preferred against him and forfeit his property in return for his freedom.
'Balogun should be a free person after six months. I don't understand why EFCC is bringing up fresh charges against him. It is uncalled for and this fresh move does not show any form of maturity in the way EFCC has been handling the case," he said.
He further argued that 'the tenor of the agreement he entered into with the EFCC before he pleaded guilty to the offences against him (Balogun) covered all criminal cases initiated against him both before the Federal High Court and the Abuja High Court."
While noting that EFCC has reneged on the agreement, Balogun's counsel said he hope the anti-financial crime agency would see reason to abide by the terms of the deal.
Balogun is currently serving a six months jail term at the Kuje Prisons, Abuja after he was convicted on charges of money laundering to the tune of about N17 billion while serving as the nation's topmost police boss.