Former Chief of Air Staff Returns N2.6b To FG

The Federal High Court in Lagos heard on Wednesday that a former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd), charged with laundering N21 billion, has returned N2.6 billion to the Federal Government.

His lawyer, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), while arguing Amosu’s bail application after his arraignment before Justice Mohammed Idris, said his client had returned “colossal sums” to the federal government.

The Nation gathered from a reliable source that Amosu returned N2.6 billion to the government.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Amosu alongside a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting at NAF, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and a former Director of Finance and Budget at NAF, Air Commodore Olugbenga Gbadebo.

Companies arraigned with them are – 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.

EFCC accused them of converting N21 billion from the NAF on March 5, 2014 in Lagos.

They were also accused of concealing “proceeds of crime” and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012 and punishable under Section 17(a).
Arguing the bail application, Ayorinde said his client, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, has always cooperated with the prosecution since his arrest in January and would not jump bail.

“He has remitted colossal sums of money to the federal government, although not in admittance of guilt, but out of cooperation with security agencies.
“My application is that bail be granted to the first defendant on self-recognisance. Let those terms be liberal. He has been reporting to the EFCC, sometimes twice a week. The first defendant will make himself available for trial,” the Senior Advocate said.
Adigun’s lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), also, urged the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms.

The Nation