Skip to main content

N6.8bn fraud: Judge’s absence stalls ex-NAMA MD’s trial

Former Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam

Former Managing Director of NAMA, Engr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam

The trial of former Managing Director of Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam, facing N6.8 billion fraud at a Federal High Court, Lagos, on Wednesday suffered another setback following the judge’s absence.

Abdulsalam is charged alongside six others for allegedly stealing and converting the agency’s N6.8 billion to personal use.

Others are Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite, and two companies — Randville Investment Ltd and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd.

The case, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was fixed for the continuation of trial on Wednesday but the absence of Justice Babs Kuewumi, who is attending a conference in Abuja stalled it.

The court fixed Nov. 8, Nov. 9, and Nov. 10 as new dates for the trial.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 7 arraigned the NAMA boss, three directors of the agency and the wife of one of the directors.

They had all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The charge was subsequently amended to include three more accused persons, while all were re-arraigned on April 12.

They again pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to a bail of N20 million each with two sureties each in like sum.

On Aug. 19, 2013, the EFCC had alleged that the accused conspired to induce NAMA to pay N2.8 billion to three companies — Delosa Ltd, Air Sea Delivery Ltd and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd.

It was alleged that the payment was under the pretext of clearing NAMA’s consignments.

It was also alleged that between Jan. 2 and Dec. 17, 2013, the defendants appropriated N191 million belonging to NAMA as well as converting N728 million and other sums between 2013 and 2015 to personal use.

The offences contravened the provisions of Sections 1 (3) and 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Court grants Fani-Kayode N50m bail

Fani-kayode sandwiched by EFCC officials Justice James Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday granted a N50m bail to former spokesman of the Goodluck Jonathan Campaign Organisation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Fani-Kayode was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a five-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N26m. Fani-Kayode is the sole defendant in the fresh charges numbered, FHC/ABJ/CR/140/2016. The EFCC accused the defendant of diverting 26 million Naira allegedly received from the ONSA while Sambo Dasuki was in office. The anti-graft agency also accused him of handling the said N26 million without going through financial institution as required under the Money Laundering Act. The embattled former minister is already facing 17-count charge of money laundering before the Lagos Division of the court, along with a former Finance Minister; Nenadi Usman, Danjuma Yusuf and a firm; Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited. They were charg...
Post a Comment
Read more

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...
Post a Comment
Read more