EFCC unable to serve ex-NIA DG Oke, wife with charge

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday adjourned hearing
till Feb. 7 against former Director-General, National Intelligence
Agency (NIA), Ayo Oke and his wife Folashade, over alleged
concealment of crime proceeds totaling $205 million.

The defendants are charged before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on counts of
Money Laundering, fraud, concealment of crime proceeds, and
criminal breech of trust.

The case which was earlier billed for Feb. 1, for arraignment of
the defendants was adjourned until Feb 6, as the case was not
listed before the court on that day.

However, on Wednesday, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo appeared for the
prosecution and informed the court that although the case was still
not listed, he was seeking a clear direction from the court in the
circumstances.

He said that the prosecution was having issues with service of
the charge on the defendants, adding that he wished to predicate on
the existing charge before the court to make certain
applications.

Citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act,
he said that the court could compel attendance of the defendants by
summons or bench warrant.

In response, Aneke said although the rules had such provisions,
it was necessary for the court to have something to act upon,
adding that there was nothing before the court at present.

The court consequently, adjourned the case until Feb. 7, for the
prosecution to bring his application before the court.

According to the charge, on April 12, 2017, the defendants
indirectly concealed the sum of 43.5 million dollars, property of
the Federal Government of Nigeria in Flat 7B, No. 16, Osborne Road,
Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The defendants were also alleged to have between Aug. 25, 2015
and Sept. 2, 2015 in Lagos, indirectly used the sum of 1.7 million
dollars, property of the Federal Government of Nigeria to acquire
Flat 7B, No. 16, Osborne Road, Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The prosecution also alleged that the defendants directly
converted the sum of 160.8 million dollars property of the Federal
Government of Nigeria to their own use .

The prosecution said that the defendants reasonably ought to
have known that the said sums formed part of the proceeds of an
unlawful act of criminal breach of trust and concealment of crime
proceeds.

The offences contravened Sections 15, 15 (2), 15(2)(d) and 15
(3) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2015. (NAN)