N8bn CBN scam: Plea bargaining stalls trial

Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor

Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan on Monday adjourned till Wednesday the trial of four accused persons in the case of alleged N8 billion currency scam.

Abdulmaleek adjourned the trial based on the prayers by the defence counsel following the plea bargaining arrangement entered into by the fourth accused person, Oni Ademola.

The other accused persons facing trial include Kolawole Babalola, Olaniran Adeola and Togun Philip.

“I shall give the opportunity to know the content of the plea bargain and whether it affects their case.

“It is my own view that the issue of plea bargaining is solely an affair of the fourth defendant and the prosecution.

“Let me also state that the issue of plea bargaining cannot stall further examination and cross examination of the accused persons,” Abdulmaleek said.

The case slated for trial was stalled by Adebisi Adeniyi, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes’ Commission (EFCC).

Adeniyi told the court that Y.A. Ruba, counsel to the fourth accused person, Ademola, had entered into a plea bargaining arrangement with the commission.

He further stated that the arrangement had reached 95 per cent completion stage, adding that every process would be completed before the next adjourned date.

However, all the defence counsel opposed the continuation of Monday’s sitting, saying they needed to have knowledge of the content of the plea bargaining arrangement.

They expressed the fear that the arrangement might affect their own cases.

The four accused persons are standing trial over an alleged N8 billion CBN currency scam.

They are being accused of multiple charges bordering on conspiracy, stealing and recycling of mutilated naira notes totalling N8 billion at the Ibadan office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The defence counsel included Olalekan Ojo, Olayinka Bolanle, and Adewole Olajire.