N6.8b theft: Court fixes date for trial of NAMA MD, others

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday fixed May 12 for the trial of the Managing Director of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency, Ibrahim Abdulsalam, charged with stealing.
Abdulsalam is charged alongside six others over alleged stealing and conversion of the agency’s money amounting to N6.8 billion.
The other accused are: Adegorite Olumuyiwa, Agbolade Segun, Clara Aliche, Joy Adegorite, and two Limited Liability companies, Randville Investment Limited and Multeng Travels and Tours Limited.
They are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
When the case was called on Wednesday, the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, informed the court that his witnesses were present in court.
Oyedepo reminded the court that the case was adjourned to April 27 and 28 for trial, adding that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the trial.
Meanwhile, counsel to the accused, Wale Akoni (SAN), opposed the prayer for the commencement of trial on the grounds that he required time to discuss with his client.
Akoni also pointed out that he had not had sufficient time to peruse the proof of evidence, so as to enable him prepare for trial.
The counsel, therefore, urged the court to grant an adjournment in favour of the accused, in the interest of Justice.
Consequently, Justice Babs Kuewumi adjourned the case to May 12 for trial, while he vacated the previous date of April 28.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the EFCC had on April 7 arraigned the NAMA boss, three directors of the agency and the wife of one of the directors, before the court.
They had all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The charge was subsequently amended to include three more accused persons and all accused persons where re-arraigned on April 12.
They again, pleaded not guilty to the charge and were admitted to bail in the sum of N20 million, with two sureties each in like sum.
In the charge, the EFCC alleged that on August 19, 2013, the accused conspired to induce NAMA to deliver the sum of N2.8 billion to Delosa Limited, Air Sea Delivery Limited and Sea Schedules Systems Limited.
It was alleged that the delivery was under the pretence that the money represented the cost of clearing NAMA’s consignments.
It was also alleged that between January 2 and December 17, 2013, the defendants allegedly converted N191 million belonging to NAMA to themselves.
They were said to have also converted N728 million between 2013 and 2015, as well as other sums.
The alleged offence is said to have contravened the provisions of Sections 8 (a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3).
NAN.