The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, today November 17, re-arraigned Chidi David Adabanya and 11
others before Justice Ademola Adeniyi of the Federal High Court Abuja on a
22-count charge bordering on money laundering.
Adabanya a former
employee of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, along with some
officials of the Bayelsa State Government allegedly obtained the sum of
N1.9billion through a phony consultancy contract in the SPDC Gbaran- Ubie
project in Bayelsa State.
The other accused persons are Forstech Technical Nigeria Limited,
Gastroil Ventures Limited, Uzoma Ibe, Andrew Feyaikebena Ebakpa, Kwokwo Ebiki
Bina, Benneth Ezekiel-Hart, Bolouwenimo Kwokwo, Presley Ebakpa, Bikyiis
Integrated Services Limited, Fun-Ala Nigeria Limited and Fambo Integrated
Services Limited.
The accused persons pleaded not
guilty to the charge when it was read to them.
Count one
of the charge reads: “that you Chidi David Adabanya, Forstech Technical Nigeria
Limited, Gastoil Ventures Limited, Uzoma Ibe, Andrew Feyaikebena Ebakpa, Kwokwo
Ebiki Bina, Benneth Ezekiel Hart, Bolouwenimo Kwokwo, Presley Ebakpa, Bikyiis
Integrated Services Limited and Fambo Integrated Services Limited between
February 2009 and September 2010 in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State within the
jurisdiction of the Federal High Court conspired among yourselves to do an
illegal act to wit: money laundering and thereby committed an offence contrary
to section 17(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004 and punishable
under section 14(1) of the same Act.”
Another
count reads:
“That you
Chidi David Adabanya and Forstech Technical Nigeria Limited between April 2010
and July 2010 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court
transferred the total sum of N927,191,277,98 (nine hundred and twenty seven
million, one hundred and ninety one thousand, two hundred and seventy seven
naira, ninety eight kobo) being property derived from an illegal act from the
account of Forstech Technical Nigeria Limited with Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc to the
account of Gastroil Ventures Limited Stockbroking Account with the Stanbic IBTC
Stockbrokers Limited with the aim of concealing its illicit origin and thereby
committed an offence punishable under section 14(1) of the Money Laundering
(Prohibition) Act of 2004.”
In view of
the plea of the accused persons, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs SAN
urged the court to ensure expeditious hearing of the case: “I will not oppose
the bail, I am more interested in the substantive case. My only concern is that
the first accused has brought undue publicity to the matter; I appeal to you my
Lord to urge the accused to limit the case to the court. I do not mind all the
petitions he has written against me to the NJC, Legal Practices Disciplinary
Council, that the law was not complied with in appointing me, I will not allow
that affect me, I am interested in the hearing of the case”, he said.
Justice Ademola asked the accused
persons to continue on the bail terms previously granted them by Justice Gladys
Olotu. The accused were granted bail in the sum of five million naira and one
surety in like sum. The surety must have a landed property within the
jurisdiction of the court which should be verified by the court.
He adjourned the case to 20th,
21st and 22nd January 2015 for hearing. However, Justice
Ademola warned counsel to the first accused to advise his client to desist from
making unguarded statement: “When matters are in my court or another court, you
allow the matter to be sorted out in court, I don’t like unnecessary petitions
and newspaper report or house committee reports on the matter” he said.
The matter
is starting afresh before Justice Adeniyi sequel to the retirement of Justice
Gladys Olotu. The accused persons were first arraigned on June 18, 2012.
Wilson Uwujaren
Head,
Media & Publicity
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