Ex-Air chief, EFCC trade blames over stalled plea bargain talks

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former
Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu on Thursday traded
blames over their inability to hold plea bargaining talks.

The commission arraigned Amosu along with former Nigeria Air
Force (NAF) Director of Finance and Budget Air Commodore Olugbenga
Gbadebo and former NAF Chief of Accounts and Budgeting Air Vice
Marshal Jacob Adigun for allegedly conspiring to convert
N21.4billion from NAF on or about March 5, 2014 in Lagos.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, had written EFCC
expressing their intention to resume plea bargain talks which
initially broke down.

Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke had adjourned till yesterday for a
report of the outcome of the talks.

But, prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, accused the defendants
of showing lack of commitment to their proposal.

The lawyer said he personally called the defence counsel,
including Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) and Norrison Quakers (SAN),
to schedule a meeting, but that they never honoured his
invitations.

Oyedepo said: “This matter was adjourned for report of plea
bargaining. On receiving their written proposal, I made several
calls to both Chief Ayorinde and Mr Quakers urging them to come for
an official meeting to discuss and agree. None of them visited our
office.

“It appears to me that they defendants are not committed to the
resolution of this matter in line with the Administration of
Criminal Justice Act.”

But Ayorinde said the delay was caused by EFCC. He said the
commission failed to respond in writing to the defendants’
proposal.

“It is true that we wrote a couple of letters to the
prosecution. There was no reply to either of them. Their style is
that they will never write in response to any request.

“We cannot force him to write if it is the style of their office
not to write. We expected a formal invitation,” Ayorinde said.

Quakers added that it was not true that the defence was not
serious about their plea bargain proposal.

“We sent letters which were duly acknowledged. But there has
been no official communication. In fairness to Oyedepo, he has been
doing his bit, but it is not right for an institution not to reply
to a letter,” the SAN said.

But Oyedepo insisted that he had already indicated to the
defence that their letter had been received.

“I also told them that I was asked to facilitate the meeting.
They never told me they were expecting a written invitation until
now. I should not be the one pursuing the defence,” the prosecutor
added.

Justice Aneke said in view of the development, coupled with the
fact that Ayorinde said he was not feeling too well despite a
prosecution witness being in court, he would further adjourn to
enable parties hold the plea bargain talks.

He adjourned until October 9.

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