N4.5 Bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Former Enugu State Governor’s Trial Till June 17

After a long lull, the trial of the former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, for alleged money laundering charges involving about N4.5bn, has been adjourned till June 17, 2014.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Kelvin Uzozie was ready to commence trial as he had one of his witnesses in court today but the defence counsel, Mr. Abubakar Shamshudeen objected, insisting that the case had been adjourned for mention and not trial.

At the last sitting of the court, presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Yinusa was absent. The defence counsel told the court that both lawyers had then agreed that the case would come up for mention today. He requested for an adjournment on this basis.

Though the prosecuting counsel objected to the adjournment, insisting that criminal cases are never adjourned for mention, Justice Yinusa, adjourned the matter at the instance of the defence counsel.

Former Governor Nnamani is being prosecuted before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside seven others on a 105 count charge of money laundering.

The offences were allegedly committed while he was the governor of the state between 1999 and 2007. The former governor eventually went on to become a Senator between 2007-2011.

Part of the offence states that he allegedly drew part of the money from the funds meant for some local government areas of the state. The funds were said to have been kept in his account in the United States.

The other accused persons are: Sunday Anyaogu, Rainbownet (Nig) Ltd, Hillgate (Nig) Ltd, Cosmos Fm, Capital City Automobile (Nig) Ltd, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.