By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The trial of Emmanuel Adewunmi Jayeoba and his son, Adewale Daniel Jayeoba, who were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos over N5.6 billion has commenced with the prosecution calling its first witness.
Emmanuel Jayeoba and Adewale Jayeoba were first arraigned on August 2, 2022, during court vacation before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, but later after the vacation, they were re-arraigned before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on October 12, 2022 on amended 14 counts charge bordering on N5.6 billion money laundering/fraud.
They had pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them and have been on bail.
At the commencement of trial before Justice Aneke, the EFCC prosecutor C.C. Okezie Esq. led in evidence the first prosecution witness, Chibueze Chukwuma, an employee of Access Bank Plc.
Giving evidence before the court, Chukwuma, told the court that he was the team leader of the regulatory inquiries department, ensuring that law enforcement agencies and other regulators were answered.
In addition, he stated that there was a correspondence between the EFCC and the bank during the investigation of the alleged fraud.
According to him, “the EFCC requested for account opening documents and a statement of account from Wales Kingdom Capital and Daniel Adewale in February 2021, we responded to the request by sending the requested documents and attaching the Certificate of Identification for the period requested.”
Thereafter, the prosecution sought to introduce the correspondence into evidence, and the defence counsel Olaniyi George did not raise any objections.
The said documents were then admitted by Justice Aneke as exhibits. After the admission of the exhibits, the case was adjourned till October 23, 2024, for continuation of trial.
One of the counts reads, “That you, Adewale Daniel Jayeoba and Emmanuel Adewunmi Jayeoba, between 2019 and 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired among yourselves to use the aggregate sum of N5,697,029,685.00, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of your unlawful activity, to wit: carrying on banking business without a valid licence, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”
