EFCC arraigns ex-acting NIMASA DG, Jauro, for N295.6m fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission on Tuesday arraigned a former
head of the Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency, Haruna Jauro, for an
alleged N295.6m fraud in the agency.
Jauro assumed the leadership of NIMASA
following the sacking of its former Director
General, Patrick Apkobolokemi, who is now
being prosecuted alongside others for alleged
multi billion naira fraud in the agency.
Jauro was arraigned on 19 counts on Tuesday
before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola,
along with one Dr. Dauda Bawa and a
company, Thlumbau Enterprises Limited.
The defendants were accused of defrauding
NIMASA to the tune of N295,618,500
bewteen January 2014 and September 2015.
The 19 counts pressed against them bordered
on theft, fraudulent conversion of NIMASA’s
property to their private use and money
laundering.
In the charge sheet presented in court by its
prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC
accused Jauro, Bawa and Thlumbau
Enterprises Limited of violating Section
15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)
(Amendment) Act, 2012, adding that they are
liable to punishment under Section 15(3) of
the same Act.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty
to all the counts, following which their
counsel, M.I.Chawar, urged the court to
admit them to bail in liberal terms.
Oyedepo did not oppose the bail application.
In her ruling, Justice Olatoregun-Ishola
admitted Jauro and Bawa to a N5m bail each
with two sureties in like sum.
The judge said the sureties must swear to
affidavit of means and produce three years
tax clearance, while Thlumbau Enterprises
Limited was ordered to produce N5m bond.
The case was adjourned till May 16 and 17,
2016 for trial.
Meanwhile, in a separate charge also
presented before Justice Olatoregun-Ishola,
the EFCC accused two other NIMASA
officials, Calistus Obi and Dismass Adoon,
and two companies – Grand Pct Limited and
Global Sea Investment Limited – of
defrauding NIMASA of N331m.
The defendants, who were arraigned on eight
counts, however pleaded not guilty.
Their counsel Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN),
urged the court to grant them bail in liberal
terms.
Justice Olatoregun-Ishola granted them N5m
bail each with two sureties in like sum and
adjourned till May 17, 2016 for trial.
Commission on Tuesday arraigned a former
head of the Nigerian Maritime Administration
and Safety Agency, Haruna Jauro, for an
alleged N295.6m fraud in the agency.
Jauro assumed the leadership of NIMASA
following the sacking of its former Director
General, Patrick Apkobolokemi, who is now
being prosecuted alongside others for alleged
multi billion naira fraud in the agency.
Jauro was arraigned on 19 counts on Tuesday
before Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola,
along with one Dr. Dauda Bawa and a
company, Thlumbau Enterprises Limited.
The defendants were accused of defrauding
NIMASA to the tune of N295,618,500
bewteen January 2014 and September 2015.
The 19 counts pressed against them bordered
on theft, fraudulent conversion of NIMASA’s
property to their private use and money
laundering.
In the charge sheet presented in court by its
prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, the EFCC
accused Jauro, Bawa and Thlumbau
Enterprises Limited of violating Section
15(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition)
(Amendment) Act, 2012, adding that they are
liable to punishment under Section 15(3) of
the same Act.
The defendants however pleaded not guilty
to all the counts, following which their
counsel, M.I.Chawar, urged the court to
admit them to bail in liberal terms.
Oyedepo did not oppose the bail application.
In her ruling, Justice Olatoregun-Ishola
admitted Jauro and Bawa to a N5m bail each
with two sureties in like sum.
The judge said the sureties must swear to
affidavit of means and produce three years
tax clearance, while Thlumbau Enterprises
Limited was ordered to produce N5m bond.
The case was adjourned till May 16 and 17,
2016 for trial.
Meanwhile, in a separate charge also
presented before Justice Olatoregun-Ishola,
the EFCC accused two other NIMASA
officials, Calistus Obi and Dismass Adoon,
and two companies – Grand Pct Limited and
Global Sea Investment Limited – of
defrauding NIMASA of N331m.
The defendants, who were arraigned on eight
counts, however pleaded not guilty.
Their counsel Dr. Joseph Nwobike (SAN),
urged the court to grant them bail in liberal
terms.
Justice Olatoregun-Ishola granted them N5m
bail each with two sureties in like sum and
adjourned till May 17, 2016 for trial.
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