ALLEGED $40M SCAM: We have no case to answer, Jonathan’s cousin, wife tell court

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Mr. Robert Azibaola and his wife, Stella, have said that they have no case to answer on their ongoing trial bordering on $40 million contract scam.

The couple stated this before the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba on Tuesday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the couple for allegedly receiving a $40 million contract from the detained former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki, retd.

However, the couple told the court that the anti-graft agency was unable to establish a prima-facie in its nine-count charge leveled against them and their company, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited.

According to them, there was no credible evidence, establishing a nexus between them and the alleged $40 million contract scam provided by the EFCC.

Sequel to this argument, the couple applied through their lead lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), for a date to enter their no-case-submission to the entire nine-count charge.

Uche said, “My lord we shall be asking for a short date for the defendants to file a no-case-submission to call on this court to discharge the defendants for failure of the prosecution to establish a prima-facie case against them.”

This development came after the anti-graft agency closed its case having called a total of 10 witnesses to testify in the matter.

But in its reaction to the defendants’ position, the EFCC lawyer, Mr. F. A. Jibo maintained that the defendants have a criminal case to answer. He argued that the EFCC successfully made out a case that requires the defendants to be called up to open their defence to the charge.

READ ALSO: Police arrest, detain Ezekwesili, other BBOG members

After listening to both lawyers, trial Justice Nnamdi Dimgba adjourned the case till March 9 to enable the defendants file their no-case-submission.

The EFCC alleged specifically that the defendants conspired “to commit an illegal act to wit: money laundering of the sum of $40 million transferred to the domiciliary account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited with Zenith Bank, account No. 5070365750 from the account of ONSA with the Central Bank of Nigeria upon a mandate Ref. No. 128/S.5LX/139 purporting to be for the supply of Tactical Communication Kits for Special Services and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Money Laundering( Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act”.

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now