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Dasukigate: Firm’s MD got N2.4bn for non executed contract, EFCC tells court

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Dasukigate: Firm's MD got N2.4bn for non executed contract, EFCC tells court
The Managing Director of Almond Properties Ltd, Olugbenga Obadina, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an eight count charge bordering on money laundering.
Obadina, who was arraigned on Friday, was alleged to have collected the sum of N2.4 billion from the embattled former National Security Adviser, NSA, Sambo Dasuki, for electricity contract that were not executed.
He however pleaded not guilty to the eight charges.
While asking for an accelerated hearing, the prosecution counsel, Peters Aso, urged the court to remand the accused person in prison custody.
According to Aso, the proof of evidence attached to the charges shows that Obadina is not entitled to bail.
Aso said: “The defendant received N2.4 billion out of which $2.6 million has been taken abroad and his passport is still in his custody.
“And so, if granted bail, he is a flight risk because he will jet off to enjoy that money already abroad,’’ Aso said.
He also said that although they had recovered N70 million from the defendant, rather than cooperate, he was frustrating the investigation, urging the court to discountenance the exhibits attached to the defendant’s bail application.
According to him, the documents were public documents and only certified true copies would be accepted by the court.
in his reaction, the defence counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, notified the court that the defendant had been in EFCC’s custody for over one month even though he had been granted administrative bail.
Uche prayed the court to grant his client bail, arguing that the charge brought against him by the EFCC was one in which bail could be granted.
The defence counsel argued that the defendant had demonstrated, through the exhibits he attached to his affidavit, that he would be available to attend his trial if granted bail, appealing that bail should be granted in liberal terms and that the N70 million recovered by the EFCC could be used as bond.
Presiding judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, said it is possible for the court to put measures in place that would ensure that the defendant was not a flight risk when granted bail.
The judge adjourned ruling on the bail application till July 18 and ordered the remand of the defendant in Kuje prison.

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