By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A Professor, Uche Chigozie, and some companies were on Thursday re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, over alleged N1.47 billion money laundering.
The companies re-arraigned along with the Professor are: Visionary Integrated Consulting Ltd, Nemad Associates Ltd. and Revamp Global Enterprises.
Professor Uche Chigozie (1st defendant) was alleged to have converted the said sum, through the account of Visionary Integrated Consulting Ltd, (2nd defendant) which he ought to have known was derived from an illegal act of stealing.
Chigozie, is standing trial before Justice Isaac Dipeolu, on an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud, stealing, and money laundering.
After listening to the charge preferred against him, he pleaded not guilty to all counts as the other defendants are not physical persons.
Chigozie was first arraigned in August 2023, before Justice Nicholas Oweibo, and had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
However, before the commencement of trial, Oweibo, was transferred out of the Lagos division, and the case was consequently, transferred to the new judge, Justice Dipeolu.
Following the defendant’s plea on Thursday, the defence counsel, Mr Edudo Mefo, urged the court to allow the defendant continue on an earlier bail granted by the court on August 7, 2023.
But the prosecutor, Mrs Chineye Okezie, urged the court to only allow the defendant continue on his existing bail, if the defence counsel will undertake to ensure his attendance in court.
She explained to the court that the defendant had been absent on some occasions , which she claimed had caused some “drama” .
The prosecutor, therefore, insisted that she will not oppose, if defence counsel makes that undertaking.
Responding, defence counsel told the court that when the defendant was first granted bail, his sureties included his biological father as well as a legal practitioner .
He, told the court that he is willing to add to the number, and thus, undertook to ensure attendance of the defendant in court.
Following agreement of parties. the court adjourned the case until March 13 for trial.
In the charge, the defendant was alleged to have conspired with the other defendants, to use the sum of N1.47 billion belonging to the Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria .
The anti graft agency said that they ought to know that the money formed part of the proceeds of their unlawful activity of fraud.
The defendant was also alleged to have retained the sum of N197million in his UBA account, which sum forms part of proceeds of illegal act of gratification.
He was alleged to have used the sum of N120 million to acquire a property in his name, at the Gwarimpa area of Abuja and another N200 million to acquire two properties in Owerri, Imo State.
Furthermore, the defendant was alleged to have used the aggregate sum of N90 million, to acquire several plots of lands in parts of Owerri.
Besides, he was alleged to have used the sum of N34 million to acquire three Toyota Hilux vehicles in his name.
He was also alleged to have received a dollar cash payment equivalent to N87 million from one Muwawiyya Haruna, which sum exceeded the amount authorized by law .
The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 1(a), 15(1), 15(2), 15(3), 16, and 18(a) of the Money Laundering Act, 2012.