By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
Two alleged illegal Bureau de Change operators were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on charges bordering on conspiracy and illegal Bureau de Change (BDC) operation and laundering of US$160, 000.
The two men charge before the court were: Ibrahim Tijani and Ahmed Suleiman Akogun. They were charged before the court alongside one Harry Ahmed Abubakar, said to be at large.
According to the charge by the prosecutor, G. C. Akaogu, the defendants were alleged to have while illegally operating the BDC, made cash deposit of $160, 000, USD, which exceeded the amount authorized by law and without going through a financial institution.
The court was also informed that the first defendant, Ibrahim Tijjani and his company, SAA Universal Links Limited, not being authorized by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CNN) negotiated a foreign exchange transaction and paid Naira equivalent of $160,000 USD, to the duo of Ademola Idowu and Ahmed Suleiman Akogun.
According to the charge, the defendants committed the offences on December 4, 2018. The offences committed by the defendants contravened Sections 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011(as amended by the Act No.1 2012) and punishable under Section 16(2) of the same Act. And Section 5 and 29(1)(c) of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act CAP 34 LFN and punishable under Section 29 of the same Act.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges, and admitted to bail in various terms.
At the resumed commencement of their trial Tuesday, the prosecutor informed the court that his witness who has been coming to court since when the defendants were arraigned was not available for the trial.
He therefore asked the court for a short date. Counsel to the defendants did not oppose the prosecutor’s request for adjournment.
Consequently, Justice Aneke adjourned the matter to April 22, for commencement of trial
