The Federal High Court in Lagos was on Thursday informed that a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd), charged with laundering N21 billion, has returned N2.6 billion to the Federal Government.
Amosu’s lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), while arguing his bail application after he was arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris, said his client had returned “collossal sums”.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned him along with a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at the Nigeria Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun, and a former Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.
The companies arraigned with them are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Ltd, Deegee Oil and Gas Ltd, Timsegg Investment Ltd and Solomon Health Care Ltd.
EFCC accused them of converting N21billion from the Nigeria Air Force around March 5, 2014 in Lagos.
They were also accused of concealing “proceeds of crime” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).
Arguing the bail application, Ayorinde said his client, who pleaded not guilty, had always been cooperative with the prosecution since his arrest in January and would not jump bail.
“He has remitted colossal sums of money to the Federal Government, although not in admittance of guilt, but out of cooperation with security agencies.
“My application is that bail be granted to the first defendant on self-recognisance. Let those terms be liberal. He has been reporting to the EFCC, sometimes twice a week. The first defendant will make himself available for trial,” the Senior Advocate said.
Adigun’s lawyer, Norrison Quakers (SAN), also urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms. “Incidentally, the second defendant is on administrative bail by the commission. He will be available for trial,” he said.
Gbadebo’s lawyer, A. Etuokwu also asked for bail for his client. Prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, did not oppose the bail applications, but urged the court to make the terms stringent.
Justice Idris granted them bail for N500 million with two sureties in same like sum. The sureties must be property owners within the court’s jurisdiction, he said.
Title documents of the properties must be submitted to the court’s registrar, which must be verified by the EFCC. The sureties must also swear to an affidavit of means which must be verified by the EFCC, the court ruled.
Justice Idris directed the defendants to submit their travel passport to the court’s Deputy Chief Registrar (DCR).
He ordered Amosu’s and Gbadebo’s remand in prison custody, why Adigun is to be kept in EFCC custody because of his health condition pending when he fulfils his bail terms.
Justice Idris adjourned till July 8 for trial.
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