N6.8bn Fraud: Absence of counsel stalls ex NAMA boss’s trial

Ibrahim-Abdulsalam-Former-NAMA-MD

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday fixed Dec. 2 for continued trial of a former Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Ibrahim Abdulsalam.

Abdulsalam was charged alongside six others over alleged stealing and conversion of NAMA’s N6.8 billion.

The other accused are: Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite and two companies – Randville Investment Ltd. and Multeng Travels and Tours Ltd.

The accused are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned the case following the absence of prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, who informed the court of his non-availability, in a letter.

Oyedepo informed the court that he was before an appellate court for another case.

The EFCC had on April 7 arraigned Abdulsalam, three directors of the agency and the wife of one of the directors.

They, however, pleaded not guilty.

The charge was later amended to include the other accused.

Thus, all the accused were re-arraigned on April 12.

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

In the charge, the EFCC said that, on Aug. 19, 2013, the accused conspired to induce NAMA to deliver N2.8 billion to Delosa Ltd., Air Sea Delivery Ltd. and Sea Schedules Systems Ltd.

The anti-graft agency said that the delivery was in the pretext that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s consignments.

The EFCC added that, from Jan. 2, 2013 to Dec. 17, 2013, the accused converted for private use, N191 million belonging to NAMA.

The commission said that the accused also converted NAMA’s N728 million and other sums from 2013 to 2015.

According to the EFCC, the offences contravene the provisions of Sections 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006, and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Act.

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