Funds diversion: Ex-NAF chief holds plea bargain talks with EFCC

A former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, on
Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he was holding
plea bargain talks with the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

An investigation officer, Tosin Owobo, had earlier testified
that Amosu and two other former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) chiefs
allegedly diverted N21billion to their personal accounts from
NAF.

He said they diverted the sum through several companies which
they personally incorporated and none of which had any transaction
or contract with NAF.

Owobo was testifying in the trial of Amosu, former NAF Chief of
Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former
Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga
Gbadebo.

They were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris but pleaded
not guilty to the charges filed against them.

An initial plea bargain talks with EFCC broke down after they
reportedly refunded about N2billion to the Federal Government.

EFCC accused them of converting N21billion from NAF through
various companies – Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil and
Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited,
Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas
Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care
Limited.

On Monday, EFCC’s lawyer, Nnaemeka Omewa, told the court that
the defence team was currently in talks with the Commission towards
reaching a plea bargain agreement.

“My lord, the defence team met with the prosecution and has
proposed terms of settlement. We are still on it, but we are also
ready to go on with the trial of the accused persons,” Omewa
said.

Amosu’s lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), confirmed that
talks were ongoing, but he sought an adjournment to allow parties
conclude with discussions.

“It is true that parties have met. It is also true that terms
have not been fully perfected. Therefore, parties will be willing
to come back before the court to report the outcome of our
discussions,” he said.

Owobo had testified that N5.9billion was transferred from NAF
accounts to Delfina Oil and Gas Limited.

A former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu, on
Monday told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he was holding
plea bargain talks with the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC).

An investigation officer, Tosin Owobo, had earlier testified
that Amosu and two other former Nigeria Air Force (NAF) chiefs
allegedly diverted N21billion to their personal accounts from
NAF.

He said they diverted the sum through several companies which
they personally incorporated and none of which had any transaction
or contract with NAF.

Owobo was testifying in the trial of Amosu, former NAF Chief of
Accounts and Budgeting, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former
Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore Olugbenga
Gbadebo.

They were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris but pleaded
not guilty to the charges filed against them.

An initial plea bargain talks with EFCC broke down after they
reportedly refunded about N2billion to the Federal Government.

EFCC accused them of converting N21billion from NAF through
various companies – Delfina Oil and Gas Limited, Mcallan Oil and
Gas Limited, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited,
Trapezites BDC, Fonds and Pricey Limited, Deegee Oil and Gas
Limited, Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care
Limited.

On Monday, EFCC’s lawyer, Nnaemeka Omewa, told the court that
the defence team was currently in talks with the Commission towards
reaching a plea bargain agreement.

“My lord, the defence team met with the prosecution and has
proposed terms of settlement. We are still on it, but we are also
ready to go on with the trial of the accused persons,” Omewa
said.

Amosu’s lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), confirmed that
talks were ongoing, but he sought an adjournment to allow parties
conclude with discussions.

“It is true that parties have met. It is also true that terms
have not been fully perfected. Therefore, parties will be willing
to come back before the court to report the outcome of our
discussions,” he said.

Owobo had testified that N5.9billion was transferred from NAF
accounts to Delfina Oil and Gas Limited.