Ex-Air Force chief Amosu gets more bad news as surety abandons him in fraud case

A new development came to the fore Thursday in the ongoing trial of a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu and others before Justice M.B. Idris of the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos, as John Okeke, who had been standing surety for Amosu, announced his withdrawal from the case.

During the proceedings, counsel to the first defendant, Bolaji Ayorinde, told the court that Okeke had expressed his intention to withdraw all his documents as well as himself from the case as a surety to Amosu.

Okeke, who expressed his intention to address the court during the proceedings, stated that he had written a letter to Ayorinde about five months ago, notifying him that he was no longer interested in being Amosu’s surety.

Read also: We’ve traced Ex-NAF chief Amosu’s UK properties gotten from stolen funds- EFCC

He further told the court that Ayorinde however did not reply his letter, adding that “After waiting in vain to get a reply to my letter from his counsel, I decided to write to the court on October 3, 2017 to avail me with all the documents I had used as surety for Amosu”.

Justice Idris acknowledged receipt of the letter written by Okeke.

The judge further stated that all his documents would soon be handed back to him.

Also, Justice Idris admitted in evidence a document detailing how the accused had moved huge sums of money from the NAF operational accounts to several personal companies’ accounts.

At the last adjourned sitting on Tuesday, October 3, 2017, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, had sought to tender in evidence the opening documents of the companies’ accounts with Zenith Bank and other accounts traced to the defendants, a move the defence counsel had objected to on the grounds that they were not duly certified.

In his short ruling, Justice Idris held that “The documents and the letter attached to it are relevant to this matter.
“Therefore, the documents and the attachment are hereby admitted in evidence”.

Emeka Omewa, who stood in for the lead prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, prayed the court to adjourn the matter.

Consequently, Justice Idris adjourned the matter to November 7 and 8 for continuation of trial.

Amosu is standing trial alongside two serving senior Air Force officers, Air Marshal Jacob Adigun, a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting and Air Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga, a former Director of Finance and Budget.

Also charged along with the accused are seven companies namely: Delfina Oil and Gas Limited; McAllan Oil And Gas Limited; Hebron Housing and Properties Company Limited; Trapezites BDC; Fonds and Pricey Limited; Deegee Oil and Gas Limited; Timsegg Investment Limited and Solomon Health Care Limited.

The defendants are standing trial on a 23-count charge of conspiracy, stealing, money laundering, concealing of proceeds of crime and conversion of funds belonging to the Nigerian Air Force to their personal use. The total sum involved is N21 billion.

 

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