TheNewsGuru

Tag: DEFENCE COUNSEL

  • Absence of prosecution, defence counsel stalls Fani-Kayode’s trial

    Absence of prosecution, defence counsel stalls Fani-Kayode’s trial

    The money laundering trial of a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode and others, was on Wednesday, stalled before a Federal High Court in Lagos, following absence of Prosecution and Defence Counsel.

    The case which was initially fixed for continuation of the trial could not proceed as the prosecution and defence counsel were said to be appearing at the court of appeal

    Fani-Kayode is charged alongside a former Minister of State for Finance, Nenandi Usman, and Yusuf Danjuma, a former Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

    Also charged is a company, Jointrust Dimentions Nigeria Ltd.

    EFCC filed a 17-count charge bordering on N4.6 billion money laundering against them before a former judge, Justice Mohammed Aikawa.

    The defendants had each pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.

    Trial had began before Justice Aikawa and witnesses were still being led in evidence, until Aikawa was transferred out of the Lagos division.

    The charge was consequently, re-assigned to a new judge, Justice Daniel Osaigor, and they were consequently, re-arraigned on Jan. 24. 2022.

    Trial has since commenced in the case and witnesses are still giving evidence before the court.

    Although the defendants were present in court on Wednesday, alongside some junior counsel from office of defence counsel, a continuation of trial will however, resume on Jan. 26.

    In the charge, the defendants were alleged to have committed the offences between January and March 2015 in Lagos.

    They were alleged to have at various times, unlawfully retained over N4.6 billion which they reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act of stealing and corruption.

    Meanwhile in counts 15 to 17 Fani-Kayode and one Olubode Oke who is said to be at large, were alleged to have made cash payments of about N30 million, in excess of the amount allowed by law, without going through a financial institution.

    The said payments are alleged to have been made to one Paste Poster Co (PPC) of No 125 Lewis St., Lagos, in excess of amounts allowed by law..

    All offence were said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15 (3) (4), 16 (2) (b), and 16 (5) of the Money laundering (prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

  • Alleged N6bn money laundering: Absence of defence counsel stalls Mompha’s trial

    Alleged N6bn money laundering: Absence of defence counsel stalls Mompha’s trial

    The absence of the defence counsel to Ismaila Mustapha (alias Mompha), on Wednesday stalled the trial in the alleged six billion Naira money laundering against him.

    Newsmen reports that Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court adjourned the case until Dec. 16 for trial, following the absence of the defence counsel, Mr Gboyega Oyewole (SAN).

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr Suleiman Suleiman had earlier informed the court that the prosecution was in court with two witnesses as the court had fixed the date for commencement of trial.

    Suleiman, however, informed the court of the absence of the lead defence counsel.

    “There is no representation for the defence and I tried reaching the junior counsel who said that the SAN ought to be here,” he said.

    NAN reports that court had on Sept. 21 ordered the begining of trial of the defendant in absentia after he failed to appear before the court.

    The EFCC had on Jan. 22 arraigned Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Global Investment Ltd., on eight counts of six billion Naira laundering.

    The court had on June 22 issued a bench warrant for Mustapha’s arrest following his absence in court.

    Dada also revoked the bail she granted the defendant.

    The social media celebrity was equally absent in court on June 16.

    On June 10, EFCC accused him of flouting the court’s order by travelling to Dubai with a new international passport.

    The charge against Mustapha include conspiracy to launder money obtained through unlawful activities, and laundering of money obtained through unlawful activities.

    Others are retention of proceeds of criminal conduct, use of property derived from an unlawful act, possession of a document containing false pretences, and failure to disclose assets.

  • Hushpuppi appoints ex-govt lawyer as defence counsel

    Hushpuppi appoints ex-govt lawyer as defence counsel

    Nigerian internet sensation, Ramon Abbas popularly known as Hushpuppi who is on trial in the United States for business email compromise (BEC) frauds and other scams has engaged a top-rated criminal defence lawyer Loius Shapiro as his attorney.

    The appointment follows the withdrawal of Gal Pissetzky and Vicki Podberesky as Hushpuppi’s lawyers after months of negotiations with the US government.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that a court order on February 25 approved Mr Shapiro as the Nigerian’s new defence counsel.

    Shapiro was once a deputy public defender in Los Angeles County.

    Hushpuppi was recently linked by the FBI to North Korean hackers, said to be the biggest bank robbers in the world.

    The Justice Department in a detailed statement said Abbas took part in a “North Korean-perpetrated cyber-enabled heist from a Maltese bank in February 2019.”

    His role was as a collaborator with a North Korean money launderer, Ghaleb Alaumary, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

    Hushpuppi was arrested in June 2020 in the United Arab Emirates and extradited to the US alongside his associate Olalekan Ponle popularly known as Woodberry to face allegations of money laundering running into millions of dollars.