EFCC arraigns six FAAN staff, others for ‘illegal’ dealing in gold

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), Lagos
Zonal office, on Tuesday arraigned eight suspected members of a
syndicate who deal illegally in gold, before Federal High Court in
Ikoyi, Lagos on a three-count charge.

The Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Tony Orilade,
in a statement said six of the suspects are the staff of the
Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN).

They are Babagana Zannah, who claimed to be the owner of the raw
gold bars; Ahmed Hamza Mannir; Manasseh Auta; Dahiru Habib Bali;
Isa Umaru Ammani; Ajakaye Oladipo; Bamanja Jonah Samuel and Lasisi
Aisha.

He said the second suspect, Mr Mannir, who was arrested on board
an Emirates flight to Dubai on March 1 at the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, was allegedly ‘helped’ by the
third to eight defendants, who are employees of FAAN.

The suspects allegedly ”carried the raw gold bars through
various doors, while carefully avoiding going through the scanners
provided at the airport and handed them to the second defendant at
the point of boarding”.

The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred
against them. Given their pleas, the prosecuting counsel, Ayanfe
Ogunsina asked the court for a trial date and prayed that the
defendants be remanded in prison.

Habeeb Oredola, counsel for the first and second defendants and
I.I. Chiahulamiro, counsel for the third to eight defendants
respectively informed the court of bail applications on behalf of
their clients.

The statement added the defence counsels, in an application
dated April 8, 2019, also prayed the court to grant their clients
bail in the most liberal terms.

The counsel to third to eight defendants respectively said his
clients are employees of the Federal Government ”and would not jump
bail if granted”.

However, Mr Ogunsina opposed the bail applications filed by the
defence counsels.

He said, “the punishment of this offence carries life
imprisonment. And if the court is to use its discretion to grant
bail, it should be in terms that the defendants will be present in
court.”

Meanwhile, judge, A.O Faji adjourned the case to April 16, 2019,
for ruling on the bail applications. He ordered the defendants to
be remanded in prison custody.