EFCC on Monday, April 30, 2018 asked Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja to issue a warrant of arrest against Jonah O. Otunla , former Accountant-General of the Federation, for his continued […]
EFCC on Monday, April 30, 2018 asked Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja to issue a warrant of arrest against Jonah O. Otunla, former Accountant-General of the Federation, for his continued absence in court to answer charges of money laundering to the tune of N2billion preferred against him and eight others by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The defendant has since October 12, 2017 when the case was filed and assigned failed to make himself available for arraignment, forcing the court to adjourn on four different occasions.
Otunla’s counsel Ahmed Raji, SAN, had at the last adjournment (January 22 informed the court that his client was away “for medical treatment abroad” and so asked for more time.
However, his co-defendant, Otunba Ade Adelakun, is always in court, while Col. Bello Fadile, former Director of Special Studies, ONSA, (also a defendant in the suit) is still at large.
The rest of the six defendants are companies said to have benefited from the fund allegedly withdrawn from ONSA account with the Central Bank of Nigeria purportedly for the supply of security equipment.
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The companies are Gold Reef Industries Limited, Lambster Nigeria Limited, G.C Electronic Limited, Sinmilak Nigeria Limited, Wehsac Farms Limited, Shepherded Field Global Resources Limited and Stellavera Development Company Limited.
At the resumed sitting today, counsel to the EFCC, Francis Jirbo, while justifying the application for the order of arrest against the defendant said: “The first defendant (Otunla), having jumped administrative bail has failed severally to appear before the court. I hereby apply for a warrant of arrest to produce the defendant and to be properly charged by this Honorable Court”.
Jirbo noted that the oath of warrant of arrest, filed on March 1, 2018 was brought pursuant to Section 37 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
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