A man, Ibrahim Abubukar, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before a Federal High Court, lagos, on charges bordering on alleged conspiracy to commit stealing and retaining the sum of N5 billion, proceeds of your illicit act.
The defendant was arraigned before Justice Alexander Owoeye’s led-court on the alleged crimes by Barrister Bilikisu Buhari-Bala, a prosecutor with the EFCC.
Barrister Bilikisu has told the court that the defendant alongside one Ibrahim and Alhaji Kabiru, said to be large committed the acts on February 2, 2025, in Lagos.
He was alleged to have retained the money (N5 billion) part of the money fraudulently removed from a in a Bank account number 0224244931, whose holder is one Mohammed Shehu, provided by him.
The prosecutor, Barr. Bilikisu told the court that the defendant’s actions are contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention Act), 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (2) (d) of the same Act.
She also told the court that the defendant’s actions contravened section 15(2)(d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention Act), 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Based on his not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked for a trial date, as well urged the court to remand him in Correctional center pending the conclusion of the charges against him.
In response, lawyer to the defendant, E. C. Nwoko, asked the court for a short date to enable him file his client’s bail application.
However, the presiding judge, Justice Owoeye, in his ruling, adjourned the matter to September 25, for trial.
The judge, while ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi center of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), however counseled the defendant’s lawyer to apply for abridgement of time, once his client’s bail application is ready.
