N2.4bn scam: Court remands Bayelsa accountant general, 2 others

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Francis Okokuro, Bayelsa State accountant general; Abbot Clinton, director of treasury, and Ikobho Anthony Howells, director of finance, be remanded in Kuje prison, Abuja, till April 13 when their trial on a six-count charge of money laundering and diversion of public funds totalling over N2.4 billion is expected to commence. 

The officials were arraigned before Justice D.V Okorowo. The accused persons pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them. Thereafter, their lawyer made an oral application for bail. Counsel to the prosecution, Festus Keyamo, however, opposed the application, urging the court to fix a date for trial. 

The trial judge aligned with the position of the prosecution and fixed April 13 for the commencement of trial while he ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kuje prison. The officials, according to a statement by Femi Babafemi, head media unit, EFCC, were arrested in Bayelsa last Tuesday and detained on a court order. 

The six-count charges include: *conversion of properties and resources amounting to N2 billion belonging to Bayelsa State government and derived from an illegal act, with the aim of concealing the illicit origin of the said amount; *converting the sum of N380 million, property of the Bayelsa State government, through the account of one Habibu Sani Maigidia, a bureau de change operator with Account No. 221433478108, in Fin Bank plc; *converting the sum of N50 million, property of the Bayelsa State government, through the account of one Enson  Benmer Limited with Account No. 6152030001946, in First Bank plc; *inducing Union Bank plc, with the intent to defraud, to deliver to Bayelsa State government the sum of N2 billion, under the false pretence of using the amount to augment salaries of the Bayelsa State government; *induced Union Bank plc, with the intent to defraud, to grant an overdraft facility of the sum of N2 billion to the Bayelsa State government under the false pretence of using the amount to augment salaries of the Bayelsa State government.

N2.4bn scam: Court remands Bayelsa accountant general, 2 others

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